Successful and timely uptake of artificial intelligence in science in the EU: foresight workshop report

In July 2023, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and acting Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, asked the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to deliver advice on the topic of successful and timely uptake of artificial intelligence in science in the EU. Key area 1 of the scoping paper, on vision and foresight, was requested to be addressed by the end of 2023.

To address this key area, the Scientific Advice Mechanism organised a foresight workshop. The workshop brought together an interdisciplinary group of 27 scientists, experts, technologists and innovative thinkers to explore what the future of AI-enabled science could look like in 2035, in answer to the main question:

What impetus could AI give to scientific productivity/innovation and what benefits, incentives and challenges would AI-enabled research bring to the European innovation ecosystem and society as a whole?

This workshop took place on 26 — 27 October in person in Brussels. It was organised by the SAM, in partnership with the School of International Futures (SOIF). Expert participants generated ideas, debated key issues and imagined possibilities for the future. This report summarises the exchanges, main ideas and discussions.