With the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society, Spain is set to activate the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA) in 2025. This regulatory body, which has been in the works for years, will focus on ensuring compliance with European regulations concerning AI, as well as supervising and sanctioning prohibited practices. However, questions arise about its scope and effectiveness, especially in a global context where Europe is not leading the development of these technologies.
The Headquarters and Its Launch
After several years of planning, AESIA will be headquartered in La Coruña, in the historic building La Terraza. Although the project has progressed slowly, the agency already has an initial team consisting of a director general, a secretary general, and several division heads. By 2025, it is expected to have a staff of 80 employees. According to the government, the first inspections will begin on February 2 of that year, while it will assume full sanctioning powers starting in August.
What Will AESIA Supervise?
The agency’s primary mission will be to ensure compliance with the European AI Regulation, which focuses on regulating high-risk systems and ensuring transparency for those that are of minimal risk. Among its objectives are the creation of a code of best practices for the development and use of AI, and the oversight of algorithms that may have a significant impact on the safety, health, or fundamental rights of individuals.
AESIA will also be responsible for assessing whether AI systems used in Spain meet the requirements of the EU’s AI Act. This includes algorithms applied in sectors such as labor, healthcare, and finance, where the misuse of AI could have serious repercussions.
Spain’s AI Strategy: Between Regulation and Innovation
In 2024, Spain approved its Artificial Intelligence Strategy, with an investment of 1.5 billion euros aimed at promoting the responsible adoption of this technology in both the public and private sectors. However, despite these efforts, the country is not among the global leaders in AI. While there are success stories like Freepik, the development of advanced AI technologies in Spain remains limited compared to giants like the United States or China.
This raises questions about AESIA’s focus: Will it primarily regulate platforms developed outside the European Union? Or will it have a significant impact on the local ecosystem, where there is still no mass production of advanced AI systems?
Criticism and Challenges
The establishment of AESIA reflects the European Union’s regulatory obsession, which seeks to ensure the ethical and safe use of AI. However, this approach has also drawn criticism for stifling innovation. Some experts argue that this regulation could create a technological gap, with “capped” AI systems for Europeans compared to more complete versions available in other markets.
Recent examples, such as Apple’s delay in launching its AI technology in the European market due to these regulations, illustrate the tensions between regulation and innovation. Leading AI platforms, primarily from the United States and China, may choose to limit their launches in Europe or adapt them, sacrificing part of their capabilities.
The Challenge for AESIA
The creation of AESIA marks an important step for Spain in the area of technological oversight, but its success will depend on how well it balances regulation with the promotion of innovation. In a fiercely competitive global market, where leadership in AI is hotly contested, the challenge for AESIA will be to become an organization that not only supervises but also drives the development of ethical and responsible technologies without stifling creativity and technological advancement.
Only time will tell if this ambitious project will position Spain as a leader in AI regulation or if it will become yet another example of Europe’s slow capability to compete in the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence.
via: Xataka