Dr. Behzad Ahmadi Lafouraki, speaking at the specialized meeting on “Foreign Relations in Artificial Intelligence Era,” which was organized by the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, referred to the “European Union’s approach to artificial intelligence; its opportunities and challenges for Iran,” and stated: In international relations, we always have challenges regarding distinction with international law. For us, processes are more important. The artificial intelligence has had a significant impact on the social fabric, especially the economy and the labor market.

Referring to the figures presented by the UN Secretary-General on the contribution of artificial intelligence in the global economy, he continued: Artificial intelligence can change global strategic stability and fundamental assumptions about defense and deterrence. We do not get involved in the ecosystem and evaluate its outcome on the strength of the countries. The use of artificial intelligence is essential for terrorist attacks and attacks on infrastructures, and even abuse of governments. Such cases have made artificial intelligence very important.

Referring to the role and approach of the European Union towards the part of artificial intelligence and the actions resulting from it, as well as the opportunities and challenges of this approach for Iran, the expert on cyberspace international governance explained: Our issues with the world today have not been so fundamental. This is how we deal with incomplete and undecided international phenomena at the international level.

Emphasizing that Europe’s approach to artificial intelligence has been regulative, norm-setting, and to a lesser degree, standardizing, Ahmadi said: Compared to China and the US, Europe lacks large technological companies in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies and played no important role in its development. This lack of influence has led Europe towards regulation and standardization. Europe has done some work in this area and has created documents in this regard since 2018.

He considered compliance with laws, attention to human dignity, adherence to ethical principles and values in terms of technical and social aspects, respect for human autonomy and non-dominance of machines over humans, prevention of damage, and distributability among the principles that have been considered in the 2019 European document and this regard, added: From 2021, Europe moved towards strict legislation. Before, most legislation was soft and based on people’s rights. But since then, Europe has moved towards the commercial use of data to defend privacy. In this framework, the European Commission raised several considerations in its documents. It defined four risk levels of “unacceptable,” “high,” “limited,” and “minimum” for artificial intelligence and, on this basis, has clarified the fields for entering it.

The expert on cyberspace international governance pointed to the competition between Britain and the European Union in artificial intelligence and stated: Changing the dynamics of power and controlling power is to the detriment of Europe. The main issue is in the hands of China and the United States. Those countries refuse to legislate in outer space; because they want to use the conditions as much as possible due to their technology and power.

Stating that China clears the lines in artificial intelligence, the Americans are behind, and Europe is the flagship, Ahmadi added: The new relationship between the public and private sector is also decisive in this regard. Europe is suitable in processing, good at data centers, and poor at improving algorithms. The United Nations has failed to provide a recipe or plan for this issue and has only provided general recommendations.

Emphasizing that we have commonalities with Europe in areas such as emphasis on multilateralism and ethical norms, global governance of artificial intelligence, safety, predictability, and stability, as well as opposition to technological hegemony in the world and the peaceful use of artificial intelligence, fair and inclusiveness, he clarified: The internal issues of countries such as the use of artificial intelligence for repression and censorship are among our challenges due to the different definition we have with them. Convergence with the United States in artificial intelligence is a challenge for us, and the Europeans are pulling the trigger to accompany the US sanctions against us regarding artificial intelligence.

Referring to the importance of international law becoming customary, Ahmadi said: We should be able to use the capacity of like-minded organizations such as Shanghai, ECO, D8, etc. In addition, it should be kept in mind that we are among the countries that have not yet developed an artificial intelligence document. While drafting this document, I am sure its international dimension is either not seen or is seen faintly. So what should we do in the international arena regarding artificial intelligence? When the Secretary General of the United Nations states that he wants to create an organization like the International Atomic Energy Agency for artificial intelligence, we should definitely know what point of view we want to have and where our interests are, and whether we agree or disagree with it.

Emphasizing that we are against extraterritorial application of any norm, he continued: If we want to go towards interaction with Europe, we must clarify such issues and answer those questions.

Saying that, unfortunately, the problem of Iranian platforms is not security only, and in many of them, the internationalization strategy is not seen; Ahmadi continued: Our private sector still does not have the character of internationalization.