FLASH
Shkruar nga Paul Dallison
The EU risks falling behind. There is now an artificial intelligence minister for public procurement in Albania...
In the European Parliament you can do almost anything: wear a dog mask, release a dove, or actually do a little work during the weeks of engagement in the constituency.
So betting is likely to be allowed in Parliament, which is good news, because it’s time to place bets on when we’ll see the first EU lawmaker powered by artificial intelligence. Speaking of what might happen in Parliament, a “rave” was held in its premises on Thursday evening, organised by MEP Lukas Sieper, who recently announced that he is joining the liberal Renew Europe group, once his national party approves the move. The far right was not invited!
It wasn't Sieper's first "rave" on Parliament premises, although alcohol has been served in the past and the current invitation said you had to bring your own drinks, a sign that the cost of living crisis has reached the hallowed halls of Parliament.
But back to the betting. The next EU elections are in 2029, and my €10 is on the fact that AI candidates will be on the ballot then, even though Parliament has spent nearly a century debating the introduction of transnational lists, where MEPs represent the entire EU rather than a single country or region, and nothing has happened.
The EU risks falling behind. The EU risks falling behind. There is already an AI minister for public procurement in Albania, while an AI bot called Gaitana is on the ballot in an upcoming election in Colombia.
Think of the benefits for the EU! It would save taxpayers a fortune in expenses and hotel bills in Strasbourg; attendance could be guaranteed, even for the most boring debates, unless the Wi-Fi goes down; and you could simply silence your political opponents, is that a good thing?
If not an MEP, then why not an AI commissioner? Ursula von der Leyen has tried to remove dissenting voices from her leadership team, so perhaps the next step is to replace as many of them as possible with a technological alternative. People have been wondering for years whether the EU could speak with one voice; now that is within reach, although the voice would be strangely robotic. Out of pure respect for his longevity in office, any AI commissioner would have to look like Maroš Šefčovič.
Speaking of the rise of machines, researchers in Japan have created an artificial intelligence-powered robot monk that they say can give spiritual advice. These days, whenever I daydream about leaving the Brussels bubble and taking up monastic life, which happens about every 43 seconds, I picture gurgling streams and maybe some chamomile tea. But definitely no robots. / Adapted from “Pamphlet” by “ Politico ”
*Note: Editorial title
Lini një Përgjigje