AI, facial-recognition need global rules: Google CEO

Sundar Pichai attended the World Economic Forum (WEF).

DAVOS (Reuters) - Alphabet Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Wednesday (January 22) urged regulators to build a global framework to manage AI and facial-recognition, warning that such technology could be used for nefarious purposes.

Speaking at an event at the World Economic Forum, Pichai said it was important to be clear-eyed about what could go wrong with AI, and while it promised huge benefits there were real concerns about potential negative consequences.

Regulators are grappling with ways to govern AI, encouraging innovation while trying to curb potential misuse, as companies and law enforcement agencies increasingly adopt the technology.

The European Commission is taking a tougher line on artificial intelligence (AI) than the United States that would strengthen existing regulations on privacy and data rights, according to a proposal paper seen by Reuters.

Part of this includes a moratorium of up to five years on using facial recognition technology in public areas, to give the EU time to work out how to prevent abuses, the paper said.

Pichai welcomed the European Commission’s proposal, saying it was a first step towards governments aligning their rules and agreeing on core values.