Spain’s Sanchez says AI industry cannot regulate itself

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has argued that the artificial intelligence industry should not be left to regulate itself, saying public institutions must play a role in setting safeguards around rapidly advancing systems. The Spanish government confirmed that Sanchez closed an event on September 21 titled “IA360: Plan for a responsible deployment of AI” at the Moncloa complex. Reuters reported that Sanchez used the event to call for stronger oversight while also supporting investment and economic use of the technology. The roadmap described by the government includes measures linked to cybersecurity, computing capacity and the development of AI systems for public-interest areas such as climate, health and energy. The announcement sets out Spain’s policy direction rather than a final international regulatory framework. Any specific legal restrictions will depend on measures adopted by Spanish and European institutions and on how existing European Union AI rules are implemented.