As a result of warnings about the advances and potential risks of artificial intelligence (AI) over the past year, the government has announced that a set of indicators will be introduced by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (CTCI). November for the first constitutional bill currently in the House of Representatives.
Although the executive committee evaluated alternatives to introducing its own bill, the idea was ultimately rejected and it chose to join the debate on a bill submitted last April by Tomás Lagomarsino, an independent deputy close to the extreme party. A decision, the minister explained, is “strictly linked to legislative techniques and strategies” so that regulation can progress rapidly.
The Secretary of State pointed out that the purpose of the signs was to create “attention” and “cross-cutting support” from MPs to restructure the bill.
“The minute we take what a machine tells us as truth and remove the human factor, we lose the issue of responsibility and empowerment.”said Minister Echavari.
“When you put the data on the table about the position that Chile is in, and executives (of big tech companies) open their eyes and say they’re not so clear about it and they’re interested, it gives us a data. A lot of hope for what will happen.” is.”
“We can provide a good set of well-worked indications with representatives that will shift the plan toward what we saw and build consensus,” Etchevary said.
Vice Lagomarcino’s plan, which seeks to regulate AI systems, robotics and related technologies in various application areas, was criticized by experts who participated in discussion groups in the room. Importantly, it proposes the creation of a National AI Commission with the power to pre-approve developments in this technology, a feature that experts say will spur progress in this area.
“Chile cannot exclude itself (from this discussion), but rather has an obligation to take the baton from this corner of the sphere and lead it,” Minister Etcheverry said of the government’s decision.
“We need to have a position and be able to stand in a place in the world and say ‘this is what we believe about AI,’ and it’s not too different from what’s happening in the rest of the world,” he added.
symptoms
The minister commented on the content of the signs for the entry of the executive, although the current plan is inspired by the regulations of the European Union, especially in relation to the risk analysis of the technology, they will propose some changes.
Indications are entered to address departmental policies and to avoid conflicts with existing regulations; Other amendments focused on establishing liability regimes for developers of AI systems; and to achieve a regulatory framework that is “flexible enough” to deal with constant progress in the development of new technologies.
“These policies are not written, and when it comes to this type of technology, we can’t expect them to happen in short order, but as a government we have to regulate, as the majority of countries in the world do,” he commented. . Minister Echaveri.
Conversations with Congressman Lagomarcino and other members of the Chamber’s future commission have already begun to outline a set of amendments.
According to Etcheverry, the program’s associate editor is “open” to changing the original text. The Minister did not realize that there would be differences in the meaning of the signs, even though the talks with the opposition representatives had not started yet.
The decision to introduce amendments in November also responds to a strategic issue. In October, a summit of science and technology ministers will be held with UNESCO to design ethical guidelines on artificial intelligence, which the minister sees as a possible input to complement the work on the indicators.
On the other hand, Etcheverry commented that the debate about the implications of AI was a topic he had discussed with President Borik.
“He understands the complexity of this matter and the risks associated with it, but he also sees the opportunity, as a country at the regional and global level, to sit at the table with developed countries in this area and have the necessary voice,” he said. Commented..
On concerns about AI, the minister warned that it would be “a huge problem” if it takes on the aspect of generating facts. “The minute we take what a machine tells us as fact and remove the human factor, we lose the issue of accountability, of empowerment.”
Big tech companies’ investment in AI
As a prelude and input to the presentation of signs, Minister Etcheverry participated in some events organized within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, where President Boric addressed the issues related to AI in his speech. .
On the minister’s busy agenda, precisely, was the focus on AI. He participated in a panel discussion organized by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the impact of technology on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He was also part of an event convened by the United Nations Special Envoy for Digital Transformation to discuss topics such as regulatory frameworks that presented the Chilean experience.
The minister, on a parallel agenda, held three meetings with senior executives of the big tech giants Google, Meta and Amazon with a “specific and concrete” objective: to get new investments from these companies in Chile and to diversify them into research. Development AI in Chile.
According to the minister, the administrators showed “great interest” in the country and agreed to present concrete plans.
“When you put the data on the table about the position that Chile is in and the administrators open their eyes and say that they are not so clear about it and that they are interested, it gives us a lot of hope of what could happen. ,” he commented.
He also announced that part of the way forward is to determine in which areas collaborations can be created and who can be potential partners of technology companies in Chile to advance in this regard.
Rendezvous with the starting runway
But that’s not all. Under the umbrella of AI, the minister visited the offices of an AI startup founded by Chile’s Cristóbal Valenzuela and Alejandro Matamala, a runway that recently achieved unicorn status valued at over US$1 billion.
The company focuses on research and development in AI to create new visual content. Their technology has led to them being named one of the most influential companies in AI by Time magazine and working with Hollywood studios.
“We contacted them and told them we wanted to meet them. They welcomed us with open arms, maybe a little surprised (…) We went to see their offices next to Chinatown, they have a whole floor,” Etchevary said.
The main topics in the meeting with the entrepreneurs were related to the experience of building a startup that started as a university thesis and the process of raising capital until it became a unicorn.
Another thing they touched on was how they could influence the country by showing the work they had done.
“They asked themselves the question of how they could repay or involve Chile. We also talked about the culture of innovation, and although we have made progress, there is still a lot of work to be done to show the benefits it brings,” the minister commented.
