The architect of the European AI regulation defends the relevance of this standard, which she considers “balanced” and adopted “at the exact moment.”

Artigas, now an advisor to the UN, calls for common minimums for AI regulations worldwide, “respecting human rights.”

Who is the new Carme Artigas? That is the inevitable question that arises when sitting down once again with this prolific entrepreneur, politician, and prestigious international advisor. Former director of Entrepreneurship and Business Incubators at Barcelona Activa, former CEO of Ericsson Innova Venture Capital Fund, and founder and former CEO of Synergic Partners (later acquired by Telefónica). Her resume is as extensive as the deep mark she has left on the Spanish and European digital ecosystem.

But her most recent venture, as Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence from 2020 to 2023, is perhaps the one that has had the most intense impact on her. Her technical profile, in tandem with Vice President Nadia Calviño, was a driving force behind the launch of the pioneering startup law, the creation of an AI sandbox, numerous digitalization projects and initiatives (such as the Digital Kit and Citizen Folder, among others), and, under the European flag, leading the negotiations that resulted in the AI Act, the European regulation on artificial intelligence that opened the global path to regulating this technology.

Returning to the original question, who is the new Carme Artigas after leaving frontline politics? “There is no new one, because I continue doing the same: working for technological development to reach everyone in a responsible way,” she says.

She does this through several paths that seem tailor-made for her. One is academic, as a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center research center at Harvard Kennedy School. Another is public outreach, as a keynote speaker at events like the Digital Enterprise Show 2024. The third is not forgetting politics, this time as co-chair of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.

“I have a huge commitment to this work, and I consider it a privilege; it allows me to cross many of my interests and is absorbing most of my time,” she says about her role at the UN, which she will leave by the end of the year when she presents the conclusions of her work to the General Assembly.

It is not surprising that the central theme of her new professional adventure revolves around the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Artigas now aims to establish an international regulatory framework that ensures AI is safe, reliable, and contributes to sustainable growth.

“The document we have prepared at the United Nations marks the beginning of a crucial process for global AI governance,” Artigas comments. “This first report, although still general and in development, is based on the premise that it is not enough for each country to regulate AI independently. Global governance of AI is essential to ensure that its fundamental principles are respected everywhere.”

“We have worked intensely to articulate various parallel processes, held three face-to-face meetings in New York, Dubai, and Singapore, where more than 1,000 experts have contributed to the development of this report, which analyzes the impact of AI on various sectors such as intellectual property, health, and open-source software.”

Artigas acknowledges that the document she is leading is only recommendations and requires political consensus that has not yet been achieved. “We can only act within the limits that states allow us. It is vital that these proposals are accepted by the General Assembly,” she adds.

In addition, there is the need to involve society in this process. “We cannot allow this debate to be limited to politicians and large companies. Society must also be concerned about how AI is regulated and demand adequate regulation from its governments.”

Pragmatism and Interoperability

Without delving into the details of the report, its main value lies in harmonizing the current diversity of regulatory approaches globally. With the United States, China, and Europe advancing their own agendas, the question arises of how the United Nations can establish a common framework that unites such different principles and values.

“I think it is crucial not to confuse governance with regulation,” Artigas emphasizes during the meeting with this outlet. “Global governance is not about imposing uniform regulations on everyone, but ensuring that there are common minimums, such as security and inclusion, that must be respected everywhere.”

One of the main problems identified by our protagonist is the lack of a unified global forum where these issues are discussed. “Currently, there are many isolated initiatives: the OECD, UNESCO, even regional agencies, but there is no place that brings together the interests of the 193 countries that are part of the United Nations General Assembly,” she explained. This fragmentation, according to Artigas, exacerbates digital inequalities and creates a gap in global governance.

With both factors in mind, the importance of establishing minimum international standards is clear. “We cannot expect regulations to be identical in China, the United States, Europe, or South Africa, but we must ensure that there is interoperability in terms of standards and that fundamental human rights are respected,” she said. In her vision, international law and the principles of the United Nations must be the starting point for any AI regulation.

Additionally, the former Secretary of State highlights a critical issue: responsibility in the case of incidents with AI. “Today, there is no clear framework on who is responsible if an incident occurs with AI in one part of the world. This is something none of the current initiatives adequately address,” she warns.

The European Regulatory Example

Of all the regulations, rules, and standards emerging across the globe, only one is currently considered a true law that addresses the phenomenon of artificial intelligence as a whole and is future-proof: the AI Act.

This European regulation, in effect since this summer (with a two-year adoption period), aims to ensure the values and vision of the Old Continent in the use of this technology, prevent the biases and security risks it brings, and, at the same time, foster innovation and its use. A law that got unstuck thanks to the trilogue last December, led by Carme Artigas, during Spain’s presidency of the European Council.

Now that it is a reality, Artigas continues to defend the need for and the timing of the regulation, responding to criticisms that question whether the EU has rushed in the face of the exponential growth of AI. “The idea of artificial intelligence came up in 1956, and it went decades without regulation,” she points out, noting that technologies like deep learning have been under massive development since 2014. “We’ve had enough time to clearly identify where the risks are and set principles to guide its use,” she says, referring to the need to regulate not the technology itself, but its applications.

According to Carme Artigas, the adoption of the AI Act must be quick and effective, learning from the lessons of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). “It was tough and costly, especially for SMEs,” she acknowledges, but emphasizes that transparency and compliance with regulations are essential for AI to be accepted reliably in Europe. For this reason, she also urges large companies not to wait two years to comply with the law, as early compliance could become a quality seal that differentiates their products in the market.

Contrary to concerns that regulation might stifle innovation, Artigas assures that the AI Act provides ample flexibility, especially in the research and development phases. “It doesn’t affect R&D or training processes before commercial release,” she explains, highlighting that the law allows deregulated environments for real-world testing scenarios (the famous sandboxes), such as in the case of autonomous driving.

“Initial resistance is normal, but the industry knows adapting isn’t as costly as it seems.”

In this sense, she remains optimistic about the sector’s adaptation to the new regulation, which is currently showing a united front against the AI Act (the latest being Meta and Spotify’s CEOs in a joint letter). “Initial resistance is normal, but the industry knows adapting isn’t as costly as it seems,” she says. Comparing it to other highly regulated sectors like banking or food, she assures that regulation “is not an impediment to competitiveness, but rather a guarantee of quality and safety for consumers.”

Her tone is firm in response to doubts, and her outlook regarding this law is clearly positive. Carme Artigas believes that the AI Act is an opportunity for Europe to lead in the development of artificial intelligence that is ethical, safe, and beneficial for everyone. “This law is here to stay, and the industry will have to adapt,” she concludes, confident that regulatory clarity will allow Europe to adopt AI more quickly and effectively.

Inclusion and Progress on the Shoulders of AI

Being part of an organization like the United Nations has forced Carme Artigas to shift the lens through which she makes decisions, from a European perspective to a much more global one. That is why she emphasizes the need for a coordinated, global approach and even calls for the creation of a permanent panel to continuously assess the developments, risks, and capabilities in the field of AI.

“This panel is essential to ensure that all voices are represented, especially in a context where not all countries have equal access to the necessary technological infrastructure,” she introduces into the conversation.

“There are many valuable initiatives globally, like the Bletchley Park Declaration and the OECD’s efforts, that address specific aspects of AI. We’re not saying we need an international AI agency overnight, but we do need effective coordination to ensure we’re not legislating in a vacuum, but based on up-to-date scientific consensus,” she clarifies.

She continues: “We need a common risk management framework and taxonomy to ensure that all actors, from major powers to countries in the global south, are aligned on how we handle the risks associated with AI.”

However, there is one key element in these advances that remains tough to crack: the private sector. “The industry is absolutely committed to doing things right,” Artigas defends, noting that major tech companies are already implementing self-regulation plans. However, the vast majority of computing capacity, essential for developing advanced AI, remains concentrated in a few hands, creating a significant gap between countries.

Artigas proposes a multilateral approach, moving away from the traditional international client-provider model that could be considered a form of “colonization.” “The global south doesn’t want to be colonized; it wants tools to compete on equal terms,” she emphasizes. To achieve this, she suggests creating a global development fund that would allow the participation of the Development Bank and contributions from the private sector, not only in terms of funding but also providing resources like chips, computing capacity, and training hours.

In this sense, Artigas underscores that trust and equal access to resources are crucial for the global adoption of AI. “If there’s no trust and a framework that guarantees equal access to resources, we won’t be able to fully harness the benefits of AI,” she warns. “We are facing a unique opportunity to do things right, inclusively and equitably. If we manage to coordinate these efforts, we can ensure that AI benefits all of humanity,” she concludes.

Carme Artigas is an expert in technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Spain. She currently holds the position of Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in the Spanish Government, a role she has held since January 2020. In this position, she leads the country’s digital strategy, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, data protection, cybersecurity, and the digitalization of the economy and society.