Regulated Artificial Intelligence is the future of education and culture

The EPP Group is calling for the unleashing of the potential of Artificial Intelligence in education and culture, without compromising the safety of students and European cultural diversity.

“Artificial Intelligence is a good servant but a bad master. It could be of great help to children with learning difficulties if it could be used to assess and identify their specific needs, but this should be always overseen by a qualified teacher”, said Sabine Verheyen MEP, the Chairwoman of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament, ahead of the adoption of the European Parliament Resolution on Artificial Intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector.

“Member States must use EU and national funds to invest in digital equipment in schools and in training for all European teachers on the use of Artificial Intelligence”, says Verheyen, who drafted the own initiative Report.

The ever-growing use of Artificial Intelligence in the cultural and audiovisual sector and possible risks linked to the non-transparency of algorithms makes up another part of the Report. The use of AI in algorithm-based content recommendations may have a serious impact on cultural diversity.

Verheyen added: “3D visits to museums, browsing online catalogues of artefacts or using personalised cultural services based on our interest has become part of our regular cultural experience, especially during COVID-19. However, every user of Artificial Intelligence must know what is behind the offer he or she receives. Limiting peoples’ choices and creating so-called filter bubbles must be avoided. Transparency of algorithms and consumer choice is key!”

The Resolution calls for establishing a clear ethical EU framework to ensure access to culturally and linguistically diverse content, based on accountable, transparent and inclusive algorithms.