As much as he recognizes the importance of regulating the AI (artificial intelligence) sector in Brazil, Minister Marcos Pontes said this Tuesday (1st) that a legal framework for the sector is not urgent.
“We are going to do it slowly to do it well”, said the head of the MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), who should leave the position until the beginning of April to run for Federal Deputy for the PL.
A bill on the subject, the Legal Framework for Artificial Intelligence, was approved by the House in September last year and is stalled in the Senate.
Industry experts criticized the framework as well as the Brazilian AI Strategy (Ebia).
Ebia wants to draw up a plan for the country to develop in the area, considering that important points are left out, such as regulation and budget to put the projects into practice.
According to Stanford University’s 2021 Artificial Intelligence Index, Brazil was the 33rd country to outline a strategy for artificial intelligence.
Pontes’ speech took place at a press conference held after a new document on AI in Brazil was presented at the Mobile World Congress, one of the main fairs in the technology sector, which takes place this week in Barcelona.
The “IA-White Paper Brazil” provides an overview of the technology in the world and suggests implementations in Brazil. Alongside it was presented the “Pan-Industry 5G+ Talent Development Whitepaper”.
CONTROVERSIAL PARTNER
Both documents were developed in a partnership between Softex (Association for the Promotion of Excellence in Brazilian Software), linked to the ministry, and China’s Huawei.
In recent years, Huawei has found itself in the midst of a trade war between the Chinese government and the US, initially under Donald Trump and now under the Joe Biden administration.
Shortly before the 5G auction, the charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in Brazil, Douglas Koneff, stated that the company is not to be trusted. At the time, Huawei responded by saying it was “always committed to integrity, ethics and the highest standards of corporate governance”.
In line with Trump, the Bolsonaro government has threatened to impose restrictions and even ban Huawei from building 5G networks in the country.
The company remains under boycott in the US, but maintains business with the large telecommunications companies in Brazil (Claro, Tim and Vivo).
“I think that the controversy is behind us”, said Minister Marcos Pontes, noting that now Communications are no longer the responsibility of his portfolio, but of the ministry commanded by Fábio Faria.
STRATEGY
According to the document presented this Tuesday, Brazil needs to quickly develop its AI capabilities to reduce the digital divide with the main countries of the world. The analysis cites the financial, health, transport, mining and agribusiness sectors as a priority.
Among the suggestions is the development of AI through government initiatives, with the hiring of professionals in the area and the creation of a specific entity to deal with the topic, as well as incentives for startups in the sector, with the creation of funds and benefits. taxes for companies and their investors.
The proposal for a plan for the development of AI in Brazil starts with the creation of AI applications in some industries and cities on a test basis and a gradual expansion until 2030.
The second document, focused on 5G, proposes education and training strategies in the area. As part of this process, the chief executive of Huawei Brazil, Sun Baocheng, says that the company should offer training in AI and 5G to 40 thousand students in the next five years.
The journalist traveled at the invitation of Huawei
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