new technologies
Wissing wants to coordinate regulations for AI with the USA
Volker Wissing (FDP), Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Affairs, speaks in the plenary session of the German Bundestag. photo
© Serhat Kocak/dpa
New technologies such as AI and autonomous driving offer both opportunities and risks. In order to contain the risks, calls for government regulation are becoming louder. The digital minister is seeking solidarity with the USA.
In the US capital, the FDP politician met US Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg and Trade Minister Gina Raimondo to talk primarily about autonomous cars. It was agreed that Germany and the United States wanted to work more closely together in the area of autonomous driving. The two countries are world leaders in this area. “So it makes sense that we coordinate closely.”
What is needed for further regulatory issues is as international a harmony as possible. “This means we can also create an international market so that the necessary high investments can pay off,” said Wissing.
After a conversation with Nathaniel Fick, US Ambassador for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, and Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor to the US Government for Cyber Issues, the minister advocated not making the regulation of artificial intelligence too narrow.
The influence of AI on competitiveness
Wissing is in principle in favor of the EU Commission’s approach of choosing a risk-based approach for the upcoming AI law. “The higher the risks, the higher the regulatory requirements must be.” However, one should not “simply regulate as much as possible”. This hinders innovation instead of enabling it.
The minister emphasized that artificial intelligence will have a strong impact on the competitiveness of economies. “We have therefore decided to attempt to find a uniform regulatory framework not only within the European Union, but if possible at the level of the G7 states or beyond.” The G7 includes Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada and the USA. In addition, the European Union is represented at all meetings.
Wissing signaled Germany’s willingness to use US cloud services in Europe. There is controversy in Europe about whether and how the use of cloud services from US providers such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google should be restricted.
“The French are very committed to this and we are a little closer to the Americans and say we might find a solution,” said Wissing. A conceivable compromise would be to put it in the hands of the member states to decide whether to use it for certain applications only allowed to use European clouds.