The Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, Carme Artigas, will leave office this Friday and will prepare her return to the private sector, as announced today. The ministry from which the secretary hangs, that of Digital Transformation, has pointed out that she is leaving the position “by her own decision” after “doing a fantastic job for four years.”
Artigas reported her departure at an event organized by Expansión on AI and new technologies, the last one in which she will participate as Secretary of State, she stated. She held the position since 2020 and is a recognized expert in AI, big data and technological innovation, with almost 30 years of experience. She co-founded and directed Synergic Partners, acquired by Telefónica in 2015, and has also held various positions in the public sector and private companies.
The Catalan has thanked the Minister of Digital Transformation, José Luis Escrivá, for the trust placed in her after reaffirming her in the position to be able to finish the stage of the Spanish presidency of the European Union (EU), which ends on December 31.
One of the main objectives during the EU presidency was to reach an agreement for the future regulation on artificial intelligence, which is expected to be officially published next May after intense negotiations that culminated at the beginning of this month. An agreement that establishes the first rules with which to limit the risks of artificial intelligence.
Artigas, 55, has assured that he leaves with the feeling of a “job well done” after a period of almost four years in this public position, in which he highlighted that “Spain has been positioned internationally” in the field digitization
Another of the great milestones during Artigas’ mandate has been the creation of the National Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence, whose headquarters will be located in A Coruña.
On the other hand, Artigas was selected by the UN last October to co-chair the new supervisory body for artificial intelligence and the still Secretary of State has indicated that “it is something that is going to keep me quite busy until September, and I am going to give myself “a time to re-plan my return to the private sector.”
Artigas said that his time as Secretary of State and public administration has been “one of the great satisfactions” of his life. “We have to reclaim the power of public management, there is nothing better than working for the public management of your country,” he noted.