It is imperative to create a legislative framework for artificial intelligence (AI), said the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Philippos Hadjizacharia, addressing a conference on AI, on Tuesday in Nicosia.
Hadjizacharia noted that "Artificial Intelligence does not replace human intelligence, but is a means of enhancing human ingenuity and intelligence."
Furthermore, he emphasised that Cyprus is not at an infant stage in the use of IT, adding however that "we are not complacent". He underlined that it is appropriate to include the use of artificial intelligence at both the public and private levels, as well as the thorough examination of the challenges that will be brought about by the application of such an advanced technological tool.
"In order to be able to compete equally with foreign economies and to keep Cyprus high in competitiveness, we must introduce smart, innovative and competitive solutions for the purpose of development and improvement in a wide socio-economic spectrum," said the Deputy Minister.
Referring to his participation in the MED9 ministerial meeting held last week in Malta, Hadjizacharia said that the need to create a legislative framework for the use of artificial intelligence was discussed.
In addition, he noted that "EU legislation for this purpose is at a mature stage, and when completed it will be the world's first legal framework for artificial intelligence, setting a standard that will be governed by European values."
"At the state level, the Cypriot government approved the national IT strategy in 2020, however the legislation expected from the EU is crucial for the refinement and implementation of our national strategy," he indicated.
In his address, Professor Chrysostomos Nikias, President Emeritus of the University of Southern California (USC), Professor of Electrical Engineering and Classical Studies at the University of Southern California, said that artificial intelligence is about building a system to perceive the environment, learn from it and to reason.
'Cyprus has been making progress in the field of technology and has a great potential to grow its technology industry. It's almost the perfect place for an AI boom," he said. He also noted that many employees in Cyprus lack digital skills. In Cyprus, he continued, only 13% of university graduates are STEM graduates (of which 4% are women), in contrast to 26% in the EU. "We need to reignite interest in STEM in our education," he pointed out.
In his statements to journalists, Professor Nikias said that he was "positively surprised" by the research centres that exist in Cyprus and the innovations they promote, the Deputy Minister of Innovation and the conference that was organised. "Only the partnerships between academics, the private and public sectors can promote AI in this revolutionary field that is being created", he emphasised.
Source: Cyprus News Agency