Entering the Artificial Intelligence Age

Long ago, competition was based on the race to space, the Moon, technological innovation, supercomputers, and, more recently, Star Wars; today, the competition among the major players seems to be focused on quantum systems and artificial intelligence. This contribution provides an overview of the key issues facing policymakers and regulators in defining a robust regulatory framework that does not unintentionally limit the evolution of these technologies. The focus is on Artificial Intelligence, from its origins and evolution to its emergence as a marketing buzzword and an expression of supremacy. The close relationship between AI and ethics raises several questions. How can the range of concerns raised by AI in the field of law be reduced or even eliminated? Major concerns can arise if AI will be placed on top of the whole digital “society” enabled to act autonomously, each digital “service” have a potential direct or indirect impact on society and human rights. Different levels of AI's "intelligence and autonomy" can endanger humanity and compromise creativity. How can existing and proposed regulations address these potential problems?