Abstract

The European legislative framework for the development and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to take shape: the European Commission published on April 21st, 2021, a proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence, and various position papers and non-legislative acts of other European bodies are paving the way for the EU to take the lead in the development of a legislative framework for AI.As the European Commission clearly summarised, AI should be “a tool for people and be a force for good in society with the ultimate aim of increasing human well-being”. Although not a member of the United Nations, the EU takes part in its activities and shares the commitments of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Indeed, the EU works towards the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both at Union and at member states’ level. It is therefore to be expected (as well as desirable) that the new legislative framework will be supportive of the achievement of the SDGs.This paper will describe the required characteristics of AI according to existing European legislative and non-legislative tools and will analyse which elements contribute to the achievement of SDGs and which aspects can, instead, hinder their full completion. Attention will be given to aspects such as the auditability of AI reasoning, equity of potential outcomes, human-centricity and the protection of human rights.