Regulation, innovation, and the role of authorities
In late June, the Brazilian government revealed a new effort in the debate surrounding artificial intelligence (AI): a plan organized by the Industry and Trade Ministry that foresees over BRL 20 billion in investments.
In a way, this is the first plan that effectively proposes some form of strategic view about AI in the country — the so-called EBIA, first published in April 2021 and currently under review, was heavily criticized for being nothing more than a general overview of concerns and topics usually discussed in debates surrounding AI.
It is also worth noting that the plan is divided into six objectives, namely:
Ethical AI development, contributing to the development of ethical principles for AI;
Research and development, promoting sustained investments in AI research and development;
Innovation;
Capacity building, empowering and training professionals for the AI ecosystem;
International competitiveness, and
Collaboration between public and private entities, industry, and research centers for the development of AI.
The plan is a landmark as it is the first opportunity for discussing regulation as one of the many relevant paths that must be followed for Brazil to position itself in the international scenario, instead of the only focus of attention.
As mentioned, regulation is indeed one of the pillars put forth by the plan, but it is complemented by several other concerns and efforts, including those focused on innovation by the private sector.