Deputies worried by AI “taking over“ Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – The Mazhilis will present a draft law on artificial intelligence (AI). During the discussion of legislative norms, Mazhilis deputy Elnur Beisenbaev expressed concern about how AI could influence various industries in Kazakhstan.
Thus, the deputy said that in the future, artificial intelligence could deprive some Kazakhstanis of their jobs.

"We all understand that artificial intelligence is the engine of progress and our task is to regulate it correctly. The Head of State himself has become a provider of this idea every time in his speech over the past two years. Many areas of our life can be regulated through artificial intelligence. The first question is that we all understand that AI is affecting the labor sphere. According to the World Economic Forum, as well as banks, AI will replace about 90 million jobs worldwide. The data has been studied for several years. This, of course, will affect the labor market. How will we regulate this issue?" asked Elnur Beisenbaev.

According to him, the government of Kazakhstan significantly understates the unemployment rate in the country.

"We all understand that the real unemployment figure in Kazakhstan is 12-13%. This is about 1 million people. And if AI replaces some industries now, this situation may worsen. In this regard, this bill will need to consider (these issues. - ed.)," said the Mazhilisman.

He cited Japan as an example, where bank cards are still issued by real people, and not by special machines using AI.

"Of course, it is not difficult for Japan to switch to using AI, like we do - to get a card in a couple of minutes. But they all understand that replacing these people, opening new jobs for them - this is very difficult. This is the first factor. The second factor - how much time will we have to retrain these people and find them new jobs?" said Beisenbaev.

He also spoke about the risks of using AI in diagnosing diseases.

"We understand that AI is now being used impressively in medicine in European countries. There is information that even cancer diseases were studied using AI and about 95% of them were accurately detected. But who will then be held responsible? Tomorrow the doctor will say that, like, here is the situation, AI comes out with a proposal, they carry out a certain treatment, but the person dies. Then the person who treated him will say: ‘We studied this using AI?’" asked the deputy Beisenbaev.

He also suggested taking into account the possible risks when using AI in the transport sector, and asked how copyright issues will be regulated when creating music and other content using artificial intelligence.

"Another point is fraudulent issues. We understand that if fraudsters use AI now, they will use it well. Now they can impose any new thesis on my speech, with my voice, and calmly use it as an appeal. And this point will also need to be resolved legislatively. And somehow define clear boundaries," the parliamentarian said.

Deputy Yekaterina Smyshlyayeva, who presented the bill on the AI ​​issue, promised to take into account all of her colleague's proposals.

"Indeed, these are just such practical, industry-specific issues that are not a myth, not the future, but our present. Therefore, the most basic issue here is the issue of liability. It is currently outlined in the bill. But, I believe, taking into account industry issues, we will detail it, because it is quite broad today. And the second, probably the most global issue, is the issue of copyright. Regulation has also begun in the bill, but it is so far of a referral nature," Smyshlyaeva said.

The norms of the general law on artificial intelligence, according to her, will be tied to practical cases.