We've published the advice on the best use of AI in science.
The advice comes in response to a request from Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age.
The advice was received by Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth and Executive Vice-President Vestager, on 15 April in Brussels.
The advice addresses both the opportunities and challenges of using Artificial Intelligence in science.
The evidence shows that the AI has become a geopolitical asset. Currently, most AI infrastructure belongs to a small number of companies, largely in the US and China, and even public research labs depend on them for computing power.
As part of the new advice, to rebalance the situation and give fair access to state-of-the-art AI facilities, we recommend forming a new European institute for AI in science. It would provide massive high-performing computational power, a sustainable cloud infrastructure, and AI training programmes for scientists. Alongside these services, a European AI in Science Council would provide dedicated funding for researchers in all disciplines to explore and adopt AI in their sciences. These facilities would also ensure that AI in research aligns with EU core values.
The SAM recommendations were handed over by Professor Nicole Grobert, chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission, in the form of a Scientific Opinion from the Advisors informed by an evidence review report co-authored by Professor Anna Fabijańska and Professor Andrea Emilio Rizzolli, co-chairs of the SAPEA working group that reviewed the scientific evidence.
Executive Vice-President Vestager said:
There is no better way to boost the uptake of AI in scientific research than asking scientists about what they need the most. Not only are these recommendations concrete. Also they look at multiple aspects which AI and science need to serve us best: significant funding, skills, high quality data, computing power, and of course, guardrails to ensure we keep by the values we believe in.
Commissioner Ivanova said:
Artificial Intelligence means a revolution in research and innovation and will drive our future competitiveness. We need to ensure its responsible uptake by our researchers and innovators for the benefit of science but also of the economy and society as a whole. The work of the scientific advisors provides us with a wealth of solid evidence and practical advice to inform our future actions.
The advice is non-binding but may feed into the overall Commission strategy for AI in research and innovation.
