As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Good afternoon, everyone.
I want to thank Armenia, and Mr. Vardanyan, for bringing us together around such a critical topic.
I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Hernández Ramos of Spain, Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence, as well as Mr. Fitsilis from the Hellenic Parliament.

Let me start with a true story from my home country, Norway.

It made headlines just a few weeks ago.

A man goes on ChatGPT and types his name.

He can’t believe what he sees.

It says that he killed his two sons and is serving 21 years in prison.

None of it was true.

He filed a complaint for defamation, but the damage was done.

Legal certainty — our topic today — is the foundation of rule of law, and the trust that
keeps democracy and the respect for fundamental rights alive.

***

I mentioned the example from Norway, but the challenges we face are many.

A woman applies for a job, but the algorithm screens her out because it was trained mostly on men.

A migrant tries to access public services, but the chatbot doesn’t recognise his name, or understand his accent.

And just before an election, fake stories flood social media. They are designed to sow fear, divide, and make people doubt.

Bias. Discrimination. Disinformation.

If we don’t understand how digital systems work — and if we fail to regulate them — artificial intelligence will only make these problems worse.

***

And yet, if harnessed properly, AI can also be a great tool – a tool for good.

Here too, the examples are numerous.

In medicine, AI is helping scientists discover new antibiotics.

For people with disabilities, AI breaks down barriers and opens new opportunities.

And farmers use it to tackle food insecurity, protect the environment, and reduce inequality.

But the bottom-line is that technology itself is not good or bad; it’s what we choose to do with it that matters.

***

Dear friends,

I see two paths stand before us.

One where technology protects, connects, and expands what is possible.

Another where it divides, harms, and erodes trust.

As leading politicians and parliamentarians, you have a key role to play.

But the risks are moving at an astonishing speed — so rules and regulations need to keep up.

But if you think about it, regulation and innovation are two sides of the same coin. They were and are two forces that drive the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence — the first international treaty of its kind.

At the same time, the Framework Convention takes a risk-based approach — helping states assess harm, protect rights, and apply clear rules grounded in existing laws and principles.

As of today, 15 Parties have signed. This year alone: Liechtenstein, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland.

And today I make a special request to all of you:

Help move the ratification process forward.

This is a vital step forward, towards co-operation - both inside and outside our continent.

And there is a keen interest also outside Europe for our new AI convention.

Every country, especially those in the Global South, deserves a real voice in shaping the future of technology.

***

Dear friends,

A few weeks ago, at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, UN Secretary-General Guterres asked us a very simple question:

Are we ready for the future?

His blunt answer was no.

And he was right to sound the alarm.

But let us do what we can to meet the future.

Together, let’s promote responsible AI governance.

Let’s protect democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the age of AI.

And most importantly, let’s put people at the centre of this revolution.

Thank you.