The European Commission has launched a new research unit called the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT) to investigate the impact of algorithms used by prominent online platforms and search engines like Facebook and Google. The team, consisting of data scientists, AI experts, social scientists, and legal experts, will analyze and evaluate the AI-backed algorithms used by big tech firms. ECAT will also examine algorithms that underpin AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which some believe could eventually replace search engines. The Commission claims that ECAT will conduct algorithmic accountability and transparency audits as required by the Digital Services Act. Nearly a dozen EU politicians have called for the safe development of AI and asked United States President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to convene a summit on AI and establish governing principles for the development, control, and deployment of the technology. Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has criticized AI chatbots like ChatGPT for having a left-wing bias and is developing an alternative called "TruthGPT." (Cointelegraph)