Data-Driven Artificial Intelligence for European Economic Competitiveness and Societal Progress: BDVA Position Statement, November 2018

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a tremendous potential to benefit European citizens, economy and society, and already demonstrated its potential to generate value in various applications and domains. From an industrial point of view, AI means algorithm-based and data-driven computer systems that enable machines and people with digital capabilities such as perception, reasoning, learning and even autonomous decision making. AI is based on a portfolio of technologies including algorithms for the perception and interpretation of vast amounts of information (data), software that draws conclusions, learns, adapts or adjusts parameters accordingly and methods supporting human-based decision making or automated actions. One important driver for the emerging AI business opportunities is the significant growth of data volume and the rates at which it is generated. By 2020, there will be more than 16 zettabytes of useful data (16 trillion GB)1, reflecting a growth of 236% per year from 2013 to 2020. The Internet of Things (IoT) is driving this data explosion at unprecedented scales. Thus, IoT applications will need to analyse the vast quantity of Big Data and with recent advances in computing power and connectivity, more and more data can now be examined. AI is making great strides. In fact, according to IDC2 by 2020, 40% of all digital transformation initiatives, and 100% of all effective data-driven IoT efforts will be supported by cognitive/AI capabilities. This position statement expresses the view of the Big Data Value Association (BDVA) on Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. BDVA is an industrially led association with the objective to ensure Europe’s leading role in the data-driven world by fostering investments on technical and non-technical priorities along the data value chain. Given that data-driven approaches such as deep learning drove the recent breakthrough in AI, the BDVA is considered a strategic “Data for AI” partner in AI EU partnerships. This BDVA position statement primarily targets European decision-makers in the European Councils, the European Commission, the EU Parliament and European national government authorities. These are involved in shaping and planning of AI-related policies, European research programmes and funding instruments for Research & Development & Innovation (R&D&I).