In September 2024, during its annual plenary session, the European Academy of Engineering (EAE) officially released its Long-Term Strategic Plan for Artificial Intelligence and Societal Development, a comprehensive blueprint designed to align AI advancements with the broader goal of promoting sustainable social progress. The strategy reflects the latest global trends in AI research and deployment, aiming to maximize the potential of artificial intelligence while ensuring its development remains ethical, equitable, and responsible.
The EAE’s strategic plan identifies several key sectors—namely healthcare, education, and public services—where AI holds transformative potential. By integrating AI technologies into these areas, society can achieve significant improvements in efficiency, accessibility, and quality of service. The Academy particularly emphasizes the capacity of AI to revolutionize medical diagnostics, personalized treatment, and health data management, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare delivery. In education, AI is highlighted for its ability to create personalized learning experiences and broaden access to high-quality educational resources, especially in underserved communities. Moreover, AI-driven innovations in public services are seen as critical for improving the efficiency of administrative processes, resource allocation, and service delivery to citizens.
However, recognizing the profound societal impacts of AI, the EAE's plan goes beyond technical and operational improvements. The Academy underscores the urgent need for a robust ethical framework that governs AI's development and application. This framework is structured around core principles such as transparency, fairness, accountability, and inclusivity, ensuring that AI technologies are not only powerful but also socially responsible. EAE stresses the importance of AI systems that are designed and implemented with public trust in mind, calling for transparent algorithms, explainable decision-making processes, and mechanisms to prevent bias or discrimination in AI outcomes.
In the realm of healthcare, the EAE urges particular caution regarding the handling of sensitive personal data. As AI increasingly integrates into health systems, ensuring data privacy and security remains paramount. The Academy advocates for stringent safeguards to prevent misuse or unauthorized access to medical data, while simultaneously promoting the ethical sharing of anonymized health information to drive innovation in medical research and treatment.
Additionally, the strategic plan includes guidelines for policymakers to ensure AI deployment aligns with societal needs and values. EAE calls on governments and institutions across Europe to collaborate in establishing policies that foster AI innovation while simultaneously mitigating risks related to job displacement, digital inequality, and social disruption. By placing humans at the center of AI development, the Academy seeks to create a future in which AI serves as a tool for societal enhancement rather than a source of division.
EAE’s long-term vision also encompasses the need for ongoing research into the ethical implications of AI as it continues to evolve. As AI technologies become more autonomous and capable, continuous evaluation of their societal impact is critical. The Academy encourages investment in interdisciplinary research that brings together technologists, ethicists, sociologists, and policymakers to anticipate and address the challenges posed by emerging AI technologies.
In releasing this strategic plan, the European Academy of Engineering reaffirms its leadership in shaping the future of AI in a way that promotes societal well-being. The Long-Term Strategic Plan for Artificial Intelligence and Societal Development serves as a guiding document for stakeholders at all levels—government, academia, industry, and civil society—to ensure that AI’s role in society is both transformative and ethically grounded. Through this initiative, the EAE underscores its commitment to fostering responsible AI innovation that supports sustainable development and improves the quality of life for all citizens.
By advancing this vision, the EAE positions Europe as a leader in the global dialogue on AI, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can be leveraged to meet the pressing challenges of our time while safeguarding human rights and promoting social justice. The Academy will continue to engage with global AI stakeholders to ensure that future technological advancements align with the broader societal and ethical objectives laid out in this strategic framework.