Debora Weber-Wulff (@wisewoman.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy)

Scientists call on the President of the European Commission to retract AI hype statement **Experts in AI call on the President of the European Commission to retract unscientific AI hype statement she made in the budget speech.** Through freedom of information, ICCL Enforce learnt that the President relied on the marketing claims of tech CEOs around "AGI" and "superintelligence" when she claimed that AI would approach human reasoning by next year. The letter asks the President to retract the statement, diligently evaluate marketing claims of AI products and seek impartial scientific evidence in the future. As the letter says, "these tech CEOs claims concerning “superintelligence” and “AGI” are manifestly bound with their financial imperatives and not rigorous science." AI hype promoted by the President has consequences. The leaked Omnibus documents show that the Commission proposes to dismantle personal data protection for AI. This will not improve the EU's competitiveness, but is instead a gift to US tech companies. **ICCL Enforce Senior Fellow, Dr Kris Shrishak, one of the signatories of the letter, said today: **_"Citizens already face AI harms: discrimination, privacy-violations, psychological and environmental harms. Instead of effectively addressing these harms and stopping companies from exploiting workers_ _and stealing creative work, the President is promoting AI hype that serves these companies."_ _“Leaders of EU institutions have a responsibility to citizens. By promoting AI hype in the midst of a dangerous bubble, the European Commission risks proposing harmful policies, wasting public funds and being complicit in AI harms."_ * * * Download the Letter **ENDS** For media queries or to arrange interviews, contact: [email protected] / [email protected] / 087 415 7162 https://www.iccl.ie/press-release/scientists-call-on-the-president-of-the-european-commission-to-retract-ai-hype-statement/