The EU and US have strengthened their technology partnership in a new arrangement for AI.

Signing the Administrative Arrangement on Artificial Intelligence for the Public Good at a virtual ceremony were the US State Department and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CONNECT) for the European Commission.

The agreement builds upon principles expressed in the Declaration for the Future of the Internet and the shared interested and values using emerging digital technologies to address global challenges.

As part of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), launched in 2021, the agreement is the latest in the platform for joint cooperation across emerging technology.

The new agreement focuses on AI applications reflecting the increased emphasis on AI for future technologies, following the reallocation of resources – and tech talent – across major companies including Alphabet and Microsoft.

The EU and US have also created a Joint Roadmap, introducing metrics for measuring AI trustworthiness and risk management methods.

It also holds the potential to inform and advance collaborative approaches in international standards bodies related to AI.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said: “Based on common values and interests, EU and US researchers will join forces to develop societal applications of AI and will work with other international partners for a truly global impact.”

Increased collaboration on research will help identify and further develop promising AI research results that have the potential for bread societal benefits in areas ranging from climate change, natural disasters, health and medicine, electric grid optimisation to agriculture.

The joint agreement hopes to use AI collaboration to tackle the world’s most pressing issues including extreme weather and natural disasters brought about by climate change, improving agricultural yield and sustainability, and boosting medical research, treatment, and efficiency.

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Most importantly, to reduce the divide seen between country’s infrastructure, the agreement will also aim to share findings and resources with international partners that share common values but lack relevant capabilities to help them manage such emergencies and challenges.

The UK

The agreement between the US and EU comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the UK’s new priority in technology for innovation, echoing his goal to make the UK the world’s next Silicon Valley.

Hunt emphasised the need for the UK to commit to emerging AI technologies, claiming that Brexit would enable the UK to attract businesses through regulations and legislation.

While the EU-US partnership will at some point allow other countries to joint, the UK may find itself falling behind other European countries in advancements and applications of AI for the benefit of the public.

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