The Regional Secretary for Economy, José Manuel Rodrigues, urged companies in Madeira on Tuesday to develop a "culture of responsibility towards technology," emphasizing that the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI) requires more than just acquiring new tools.
Rodrigues stressed that as AI becomes more integrated into businesses, the notion that decisions aided by the machine are the machine's responsibility becomes less tenable. "The more artificial intelligence enters companies, the less acceptable the thesis that decisions made with its assistance are the machine's responsibility will be," he stated.
The official highlighted that AI has entered companies before being integrated into their strategies, warning of the risks associated with ease of access. He recalled that 86% of the region's companies are micro-enterprises with fewer resources to test solutions or hire specialists, and that Portugal's AI adoption rate by small businesses is lower than the European average (9.4% versus 17%).
In light of this, he advocated for public policy to support companies in making informed decisions, without replacing entrepreneurs in choosing technological solutions, framing this approach within the Regional Artificial Intelligence Agenda for Businesses (ARIA-Empresas).
