There are calls in the federal government to quickly create rules for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Digital Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) told the “Bild am Sonntag” (BamS): “We have to react wisely now and regulate artificial intelligence sensibly before it’s too late for that. It mustn’t take years again.” He called for a legal framework to be created quickly in Europe. SPD leader Saskia Esken told the newspapers of the Funke media group that AI should not be misused for surveillance in the workplace.
ChatGPT, Google’s competitor software Bard and programs that can generate images based on text descriptions are currently causing a stir. At the same time, there are concerns that such AI-based technology could be misused to spread false information, for example.
Balance between openness to innovation and a clear legal framework
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior told Handelsblatt: “It is essential to strike a balance between openness to innovation and a clear legal framework that defines standards for trustworthy AI.” The extent to which certification can play a role remains to be seen. As part of the EU regulation on AI regulation under discussion, the federal government has advocated making the use of certain high-risk AI systems by public administration visible in a publicly accessible database. This refers to systems that could be used, for example, in the areas of border control or law enforcement – for example to predict the likelihood of crime.
Wissing told the BamS that a legal framework must ensure that the new technology can only be used if it adheres to European values such as democracy, transparency and neutrality. “AI systems must not manipulate us, they must support us.” He also sees huge opportunities in the use of AI.
Digital watermark – also against the emergence of possible wars
SPD leader Esken also pointed out the risks. With artificial intelligence, “absolutely real-looking images, audio and videos” can be created, but they are pure fakes. “For example, statements that seem authentic could be spread by politicians who never made them. This could lead to wars,” she said. It must be ensured that real recordings can be recognized as such – for example by a digital watermark.
At the same time, Esken countered fears that AI could ultimately result in lost jobs. “This fear exists with every leap in technology, and yet so far more new jobs have been created than have been replaced.” In addition, there is already a large shortage of skilled workers. However, the use of artificial intelligence should not be misused for monitoring in the workplace. “The legislature must ensure that.”
“Only even better jobs and fewer shortages of skilled workers”
The head of HR at the software group SAP, Sabine Bendiek, sees it similarly. She told the German Press Agency that AI can make a huge contribution to productivity and be a support for people. In this way, extremely monotonous, repetitive tasks could be taken over by AI. “Our employees can then really focus on using what makes people so strong: creativity and the ability to evaluate the results from a different perspective and implement them accordingly.” Esken agrees: “Then we can focus on the tasks that require human skills: empathy, creativity, thinking outside the box and solving complex, novel tasks.”
Bendiek does not see the danger that AI will completely eliminate many jobs. Jobs are changing and many new jobs are being created. “As a result, we see a shift in competencies and, of course, the need to equip our employees and customers with these competencies in the future.” In view of the shortage of skilled workers, especially in the digital sector, AI can also help to better cushion the constantly increasing demand for digital skills with the right mix of man and machine.
Chatbot as a problem solver
The main thing now is to further automate the business processes of SAP customers with AI and to increase the quality of decisions. SAP uses AI, for example, in human resources in the form of a chatbot. According to Bendiek, he accepted around 42,000 inquiries from employees last year and clarified them independently. It’s about classic questions from employees who are looking for information, such as benefits, vacation or the flexible working model from SAP.
In order to further develop the AI applications within the company, SAP is also taking a close look at the popular AI text robot ChatGPT from the Californian start-up Open AI. “We believe that there is a lot of potential for us,” said Bendiek. SAP is also testing various use cases with the Heidelberg AI start-up Aleph Alpha. “We then evaluate how exciting that actually is, also for potential partnerships.”
Wissing wants to abolish federalism in data protection
Wissing has also called on the federal states to work together more digitally and to make their data systems compatible. “It’s absurd how often you have to give your name, date of birth and address in the course of your life. Once should be enough. That’s currently failing because the administration works with very different systems,” said the FDP -Politician of the BamS. “The administration in Hesse cannot communicate freely with that in Thuringia and therefore cannot call up all the data there. We need interfaces that change that.”
At the same time, Wissing called for changes in data protection. “Data protection in Germany must be simplified. It is no longer possible for the data protection authorities to make different decisions in each federal state,” he said. “We want to sort competencies more clearly and strengthen the role of a higher authority.”
(bme)
