The impact of artificial intelligence is no longer a promise of the future but a reality that is redefining the productive fabric, public administration, and the daily lives of citizens. Aware of this transformation, the Spanish Government has decided to step forward and promote a great national agreement that lays the foundations for how society wants to coexist with this technology. This was announced by Carlos Cuerpo, First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, during the closing of the annual meeting of Ametic, the technology employers' association, held in Santander.

A tripartite pact to govern AI

Carlos Cuerpo, who replaced the President of the Government at the closing of the congress due to the Ceuta crisis, announced that the Executive will promote a round of meetings in the coming weeks with social agents, employers, and a broad spectrum of experts. The goal is to sign a tripartite agreement that makes social dialogue a central pillar of technological development and the distribution of its benefits. "In the coming weeks, the President of the Government will promote the signing of a tripartite agreement with social agents that places social dialogue as a central, key pillar in this technological development and in the distribution of the benefits derived from it," stated Cuerpo.

This move is not coincidental. AI is generating a growing gap between those who master technology and those who are affected by it without participating in its decisions. As we already analyzed in AI and social pact: the government's plan so that no one is left out of the technological distribution, the key is not only to innovate but to ensure that the benefits reach all of society.

Who controls technology and who captures its profits?

One of the most interesting points of Cuerpo's speech was his description of the two future scenarios that open up before AI. According to the minister, the impact of this technology can be enormously positive or profoundly negative, and the difference lies not in technological advances themselves but in the response we give to three key questions: who will control technology, who will capture the profits derived from it, and how much time will societies have to adapt to this change.

This reflection directly connects to the debate on AI adoption versus AI fluency, where we explain that it is not enough to implement intelligent tools if organizations do not develop the capacity to understand and manage their implications. The Government seems to have internalized this lesson and now seeks to create a framework that facilitates this transition.

A starting point with multiple actors

The meetings promoted by the Executive will not be limited to unions and employers. According to Cuerpo, representatives of civil society, experts from the academic world, and relevant actors from the business, scientific, health, educational, and industrial spheres will also participate. This diversity is essential to address a technology that, as the minister himself pointed out, affects all sectors: "AI is affecting our entire daily lives, all areas of our lives. In health, education, work, science, climate, energy, public services, the competitiveness or productivity of our companies, particularly our SMEs, security, sovereignty, the very functioning of our democratic systems, or elements such as, for example, culture."

The breadth of this approach reflects a strategic vision: AI is not just a technological issue but a cross-cutting phenomenon that requires a multidisciplinary approach. For companies, this represents a paradigm shift in how to approach innovation. It is no longer enough to have an IT department that implements isolated solutions; it is necessary to integrate AI into the business strategy, as we show in our guide on implementing generative AI in workflows.

Productivity and competitiveness as axes

One of the aspects that most concerns the Government is the impact of AI on the productivity and competitiveness of companies, especially SMEs. Process automation, operations optimization, and predictive analytics are just some of the applications that can transform the Spanish business fabric. In this sense, process automation with tools like n8n is becoming a key competitive advantage, as we explain in our article on automation with n8n and AI.

However, the minister also warned of the risks: AI can exacerbate inequalities if not managed properly. Hence, the social pact proposed by the Government includes mechanisms to ensure a fair distribution of benefits. This implies not only training and reskilling policies but also a regulatory framework that prevents the concentration of power in the hands of a few large tech companies.

The reference to Bill Gates and the long-term vision

During his statements to the press, Cuerpo mentioned a recent publication by Bill Gates in which the Microsoft founder advocated creating the conditions to take advantage of AI opportunities and distribute its benefits fairly. This reference is not trivial: it places the Spanish initiative in an international context and underscores the need to act urgently.

"A technology as disruptive as artificial intelligence poses challenges, but also enormous opportunities. What we want is, in the future, as Bill Gates has also proposed in a publication this same week, to be able to put all the conditions in place to take advantage of these opportunities and ensure that the benefits of this technology are distributed fairly among citizens, thereby supporting this technological process," explained Cuerpo.

Education and training: the pending subject

One of the areas that will require the most attention is education. AI is changing the nature of work and the skills needed to perform it. Educational systems must adapt to prepare new generations and also to reskill current workers. In this sense, the social pact should include continuous training programs and advanced digital literacy.

For companies, this represents an opportunity to invest in the development of their human capital. Cybersecurity, for example, is a field where AI is having a profound impact, both in defense and attack. As we point out in our guide on ethical hacking and penetration testing, training in these areas is critical to protect digital assets.

An uncertain but governable future

The Government's announcement is a first step towards an AI governance model that seeks to balance innovation and social protection. It remains to be seen how this pact will materialize and what specific measures will be adopted. What is clear is that AI is no longer an option but a reality that requires deep social dialogue and a long-term strategic vision.

For companies, this new context opens opportunities to collaborate with the public sector and to position themselves as leaders in the responsible adoption of AI. Digital transformation is not just a matter of technology but of people and institutions. As we have seen in real cases of digital transformation in logistics companies, the key is to integrate technology with a clear business vision and a commitment to social values.

The path will not be easy, but the Government's initiative demonstrates that AI can be governed. The question is whether we will know how to seize this opportunity to build a fairer and more prosperous society.

Original source: ComputerWorld. Analysis and adaptation by ForgeNEX.