By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

What istThe European approach to AI? What should the AI legal framework achieve in terms of policy goals?  What are the challenges?  What is the timetable?  How do companies use AI and to what extent will they be impacted by the proposed AI Act?  AI, data protection impacts and overlaps, if any, with the GDPR. How might the AI and GDPR programmes’ implementation interplay?  Will the European approach to trustworthy AI influence AI governance and regulation in other parts of the world?

The foregoing are some of the posers that a high-calibre list of panelists will seek to unravel as the International Institute of Communications(IIC) Brussels Chapter gets set to organize a critical industry seminar, Cyber Era NG learns.

According to IIC information to which this medium is privy, authored by IIC Director-General, Lynn Robinson, the seminar will draw panellists from the European Commission, European Data Protection Supervisor, Belgian Data Protection Authority and leading international companies, among others.

Speakers already confirmed, according to Ms Robinson are:

• Policy & Consultation, Head of Unit, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Anna Buchta
• EMEA Privacy Policy Director, Facebook Cecilia Alvarez Rigaudias
• Senior Director for EU Government Affairs (AI, Privacy and Digital Policies), Microsoft Cornelia Kutterer
• Chairman of the Litigation Chamber and Member of the Executive Committee, Data Protection Authority, Belgium Hielke Hijmans
• Legal Officer at DG CNECT, Unit A2 Artificial Intelligence Policy Development and Coordination, European Commission, Yordanka Ivanova

It will be recalled that in April 2021, the European Commission proposed its very first legal framework on the application of Artificial Intelligence(AI), through the draft Artificial Intelligence Act. Whilst the proposal slowly advances through the EU legislative process before it can become a binding regulation, companies based in the EU have started discussing the European approach to AI and the potential impact on their operations and regulatory compliance.