Europe moves to stop a dangerous AI phenomenon: Professor explains why it matters

Europe is taking steps to curb the potential for artificial intelligence to create subtle discrimination in the job market, education, and other critical sectors. Professor Paulius Pakutinskas of Mykolas Romeris University explained that while many focus on extreme AI scenarios, the immediate threat is algorithmic bias.

Pakutinskas, an expert in AI and new technologies, noted that UNESCO, an organization often associated with cultural heritage, is actively involved in regulating AI due to its profound societal impact. He stated that UNESCO has developed strong global recommendations, recognized by member states, which help establish fundamental values in this rapidly evolving field.

"We greatly simplify discrimination – we only think about gender, race, or religion," Pakutinskas said. "But a person is made up of countless parameters. Imagine if an algorithm, when selecting people for a job, introduces a parameter that people of a certain height are unsuitable. If this algorithm is widely used in the market, your CV from several hundred streams will constantly end up in the trash, and no one will know why."

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We greatly simplify discrimination – we only think about gender, race, or religion. But a person is made up of countless parameters. Imagine if an algorithm, when selecting people for a job, introduces a parameter that people of a certain height are unsuitable. If this algorithm is widely used in the market, your CV from several hundred streams will constantly end up in the trash, and no one will know why.

He contrasted the consistency of algorithms with human decision-making, pointing out that while humans have good and bad days, emotions, and inconsistencies, technology operates without emotion. This makes it crucial to hold AI to a higher standard, as any systemic error or bias can be instantly replicated across all its applications.

The European Union recently tightened its rules with the AI Act. While some businesses fear that strict regulations might stifle innovation, Pakutinskas suggests a more measured view. He argued that Europe is not a leader in AI like the U.S. or China, but regulation is not merely about prohibitions; it's about establishing agreed-upon rules. Europe's approach involves preemptive regulation in sensitive areas such as employment, medicine, and education.

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UNESCO saw that the impact of technology on society, on all of us, is so great that they cannot stand aside. Strong recommendations have already been created in this area, which are known all over the world. Most importantly – all member states recognize them. When we talk about specific regulations, they are often national or regional, but here we manage to agree on basic values.