Machines Like Us

Margrethe Vestager Fought Big Tech and Won. Her Next Target is AI

Nov 19, 2024

Margrethe Vestager, the EU's Competition Commissioner known for her fierce stance against big tech, dives into the urgent need for AI regulation. She discusses her landmark victories against giants like Apple and Google, emphasizing the importance of accountability in AI decision-making. Vestager outlines the risks of unregulated AI, including discrimination and lack of transparency, and stresses the necessity for human-centric governance. With her tenure winding down, she highlights the race for comprehensive global legislation to protect citizens and ensure trust in technology.

34:44

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Margrethe Vestager

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Quick takeaways

Margrethe Vestager highlights the urgent need for comprehensive AI governance to prevent discrimination and uphold human rights in decision-making processes.

The EU's AI Act aims to regulate high-risk AI systems while balancing innovation with ethical considerations and societal safety concerns.

Deep dives

The Importance of Regulating AI

AI technology demands immediate governance due to its growing influences on decision-making in critical areas such as education, healthcare, and public safety. Algorithms are increasingly being utilized to sort applications for universities or determine mortgage eligibility, raising concerns about the reliability of these systems. As AI algorithms evolve to act more like agents, their ability to influence outcomes has significantly increased, which necessitates trust in the technology that influences human decisions. The urgency for regulating AI is accentuated by real-world consequences of its deployment, causing discrimination and even mental health crises.

Intro

2min

The Urgency of AI Governance in Decision-Making

2min

Evaluating Unacceptable Risks in AI Governance

2min

Navigating AI Regulation: Challenges and Perspectives

20min

Challenging the Claims of Impossibility by Tech Giants

2min

Navigating AI and Journalism in Canada

8min

Margrethe Vestager has spent the past decade standing up to Silicon Valley. As the EU’s Competition Commissioner, she’s waged landmark legal battles against tech giants like Meta, Microsoft and Amazon. Her two latest wins will cost Apple and Google billions of dollars.

With her decade-long tenure as one of the world’s most powerful anti-trust watchdogs coming to an end, Vestager has turned her attention to AI. She spearheaded the EU’s AI Act, which will be the first and, so far, most ambitious piece of AI legislation in the world.

But the clock is ticking – both on her term and on the global race to govern AI, which Vestager says we have “very little time” to get right.

Mentioned:

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act

“Dutch scandal serves as a warning for Europe over risks of using algorithms,” by Melissa Heikkilä

“Belgian man dies by suicide following exchanges with chatbot” by Lauren Walker

The Digital Services Act

The Digital Markets Act

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

“The future of European competitiveness” by Mario Draghi

“Governing AI for Humanity: Final Report” by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body

The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA)