Although the focus of attention has recently been placed on artificial intelligence, its development has been evolving for decades and it has been incorporated into many areas of our lives for years. Machine learning models have been playing an important role in the diagnosis of diseases, scientific research, weather forecasting or the optimization of industrial processes, in addition to other everyday tools such as Internet browsers and conversational assistants.
However, the exponential acceleration of technological development has led to the consideration of moratoriums and prohibitions.
Like all new technologies, like all industrial revolutions, adequate regulation is required to guarantee safety and proper use for the benefit of society and, at the same time, foster innovation and economic growth.
From the government, we have been working for years to channel the technological revolution that artificial intelligence entails. We have had a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA) since 2020, which we are developing and in which the private sector accompanies us, putting people at the center.
Thanks to European funds, we have launched unprecedented public investments. More than 50 million euros are financing five consortia with 78 participating entities, including research centers and companies, which are working on RD missions so that artificial intelligence adds value in strategic areas such as digital health, agriculture or energy.
We have also invested 105 million euros in the development of 217 business projects throughout the territory to integrate artificial intelligence into economic value chains, with 69% of SMEs among the beneficiary companies, to integrate artificial intelligence into wireless monitoring in floating solar plants, improve farms or personalized educational itineraries.
We have made artificial intelligence a lever for territorial structuring, with the Retech IA program, which has allocated almost 260 million euros to 13 projects promoted by the Autonomous Communities to create territorial industrial and innovation networks in each region of Spain.
Soon 16 university-business chairs will be launched to promote and attract talent and the transfer of knowledge from research to its industrial application. In addition, in collaboration with the Institute of Democratic Governance and the European University Institute, we have created a chair of 'Artificial Intelligence and Democracy'.
The next step will be the creation of the Spanish Network of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence which, with an investment of 32 million euros, will allow the development of multidisciplinary lines of research in artificial intelligence in thematic areas.
In addition, innovative strategic projects have been launched, such as the PERTE New Language Economy, to promote artificial intelligence that understands and thinks in Spanish and the co-official languages, and pioneering proposals, such as the National Green Algorithms Program, so that artificial intelligence is not only sustainable by default, but also contributes to solving environmental challenges such as reducing CO2 emissions; the Quantum Spain and Neurotech projects, and the installation in Spain of international research projects.
The regulation of artificial intelligence and its uses is one of the greatest governance challenges of our time, which must be faced decisively. And Spain has a lot to say about it.
We have been pioneers with the Digital Bill of Rights, which includes a catalog of principles to protect our values and rights in the new digital world. We are the first country in Europe to create a State Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence, in A Coruña. Together with the European Commission, we have launched the first European Union Sandbox on Artificial Intelligence to facilitate the implementation of the regulation, particularly for SMEs, and the European Center for Algorithmic Transparency has also been established here, in Seville, key in the fight against misinformation on social media.
The Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU comes at a crucial moment for a series of regulatory texts that will have a decisive impact on the digital decade, among which the Artificial Intelligence Regulation stands out without a doubt, which establishes obligations such as transparency or supervision for high-risk AI systems or general-purpose ones like ChatGPT, ensuring an ethical and robust deployment of this technology.
The Government's digitization agenda is totally in tune with the private sector and, thanks to the Digital Spain 2026 agenda, we are headed in the right direction. Employment growth is notable in sectors such as programming, science and telecommunications, whose number of affiliates has grown by more than 21% compared to before the pandemic. Sustained growth that shows that digital transformation, well conducted, is a lever for creating new quality jobs, new opportunities and greater well-being.
We cannot have all the answers about the future of artificial intelligence, but we do have some certainties. One of them is that artificial intelligence is neither going to stop nor can it be stopped. We cannot give up this immense transformative potential, but neither can we be naive. We have to make sure that artificial intelligence contributes to the common good, reinforces democracy, our values, that it reduces inequalities and biases.
The second certainty is that the ethical use of artificial intelligence does not happen by chance, it happens by conviction and by design. We have to get the decisions we make right now to strengthen regulatory development and promote the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens, while encouraging innovation and economic growth, the hallmark of this Government.
The third certainty is that, in order to materialize this future of opportunity, it is necessary to have sown a present of preparation. This is what we have been doing since we took office, supported by European Next Generation EU funds and with a clear vision contained in the Recovery Plan, betting on the immense potential of our country, our companies and our citizens.
It is possible, it is essential, to take advantage of the transformative effect of artificial intelligence and digitization and thus walk with confidence towards a more prosperous future and full of opportunities: a better future. We are doing it, here and now. Country pride.
