Ana Palacios in HoM: “Human Beings mustn’t lose their critical thinking skills”

Are data the new oil or something even more valuable? How can data spaces improve citizens’ lives? Where is technological sovereignty in Europe headed?

These are some of the questions answered by Ana Palacios, General Director of Data at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, in our latest episode of HoM: Humano o Máquina. The Huelva born representative, who has an outstanding career in public administration and digital economy management, sits down with Juan Marcelo Gaitán to talk about the real impact of data, the role of SMEs and the need to always keep people at the center of technological progress.

The competitive advantage of the Data Economy

For years we’ve heard that “data is the new oil,” but for Ana Palacios, this metaphor no longer does it justice: “Oil loses value when it’s used because it’s scarce; data, when shared and reused, generates exponential value”.

In a global context dominated by tech giants, the general director points out that the true strength of Spain and Europe lies in adding value to their unique and industrial data, rather than competing to see who has the most powerful AI model.

Through initiatives like data spaces (in sectors such as healthcare, mobility, or agri-food), secure environments are being created where companies and public administrations can exchange information under common rules.

Furthermore, she adds that this infrastructure isn’t just for large corporations. Data spaces allow SMEs to access market analysis and trends that were previously out of reach, democratizing this technology and optimizing these companies' processes.

The human factor: the irreplaceable verifier

Despite being a firm advocate of digitalization and data-driven decision-making, Ana Palacios doesn’t believe that machines will take control away from humans.

Faced with Juan Marcelo's classic question about who will win the battle between human or machine, the answer is clear: "Humans will always win."

For the general director, technological tools and AI models are capable of automating processes at high speed, but they lack critical thinking and context. The success of this new model is based on the concept of Human in the loop and two essential pillars:

• Verification and critical judgment. "Automating is already cheap; what is costly and truly valuable is verification, and only humans can do that." Blindly delegating decisions to an algorithm makes us lose our critical capacity. Technology should recommend, but the final responsibility must always rest with people.
• Trust and education. For society and SMEs to overcome the fear of sharing information, education is essential. Explaining simply that data spaces guarantee that the company never loses control over its assets and that sharing occurs within a framework of complete governance and legal certainty.

Juan Marcelo Gaitán's interview with Ana Palacios leaves us with great insights into digital governance, the future of SMEs, and the importance of putting technology at the service of people. Are you going to miss it? The full episode of HoM: Humano o Máquina is available on our YouTube channel.