Zavod 14 is pleased to present a publication on Understanding the Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Policy Roadmap for the European Union, supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF). The growing reliance on AI highlights its transformative role across various sectors while presenting significant challenges that demand careful attention. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into public and private domains, addressing its ethical, legal, and sustainability implications is essential. The EU, committed to technological leadership and ethical standards, plays a pivotal role in navigating these complexities through initiatives like the EU AI Act, which seeks to balance innovation with safety and ethical oversight. Simultaneously, emerging trends such as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) introduce new uncertainties about AI’s long-term societal impacts and its potential to exceed human control. While these advancements offer solutions to complex global challenges, they also require a deliberate approach to ensure alignment with human values.
The main objective of the publication is to provide a holistic analysis of AI’s multifaceted impacts on European society, the economy, and the environment. As AI increasingly integrates into public and private life, it is critical to ensure that its deployment aligns with the EU’s core values of human dignity, inclusivity, and sustainability. The publication highlights the immense potential of AI to drive innovation and competitiveness within the EU but also emphasizes the need to mitigate risks related to workforce displacement, social inequality, privacy concerns, and the environmental costs associated with AI technologies. The publication is divided into three key chapters, each exploring the distinct yet interconnected implications of AI—societal, economic, and environmental—providing a comprehensive overview of both the potential and the challenges that this powerful technology brings. The first chapter highlights AI’s potential to optimize healthcare and education, enhance quality of life, and promote equity while addressing concerns like biases, privacy risks, and the digital divide, with governance frameworks such as the EU’s AI Act ensuring accountability. The second chapter examines AI’s economic role in reshaping labour markets, boosting productivity, and fostering competitiveness, emphasizing workforce reskilling and addressing adoption challenges for smaller enterprises. The third chapter explores AI’s environmental impact, balancing benefits like energy efficiency with risks such as carbon footprints, advocating for green AI and global cooperation. The publication outlines targeted recommendations to harness AI’s transformative potential while safeguarding rights and promoting sustainability across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
Download the full publication here: Understanding the Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Policy Roadmap for the European Union
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