The European Union has made a significant stride in regulating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, with the member states collectively endorsing the final draft of the EU’s AI Act. Thierry Breton, the Commissioner for the Internal Market of the EU, heralded this development as a historic milestone, marking it as the first of its kind globally.
At its core, the AI Act introduces a risk-based framework aimed at governing the deployment of AI applications. This encompasses the use of AI in biometric surveillance by governments, the regulation of AI systems such as ChatGPT, and establishing transparency requirements that must be met prior to entering the market. Following a political consensus reached in December 2023, the EU has been diligently working to finalize the text, culminating in a decisive vote by the permanent representatives of the member states on February 2.
The rise of deepfakes has sparked significant alarm among experts, who worry about their potential to blur the lines between reality and fiction on social media platforms. Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, emphasized the importance of the AI Act in addressing these challenges. She outlined a principle where the level of risk associated with an AI application directly correlates with the accountability expected from its developers, especially in sensitive areas such as employment and education.
The path to this agreement saw pivotal moments, including France retracting its initial objections and Germany expressing its support following a compromise. The AI Act is now poised to advance through the legislative process, with a key committee vote scheduled for February 13 and a subsequent European Parliament vote anticipated in the spring. The Act is expected to come into effect in 2026, though some provisions may be implemented sooner.
In anticipation of the AI Act’s enforcement, the European Commission is laying the groundwork for an AI Office tasked with overseeing adherence to the Act, particularly for high-impact foundational models identified as systemically risky. Furthermore, the Commission has announced initiatives to bolster local AI development efforts, including enhancements to the EU’s supercomputing capabilities to facilitate the training of generative AI models.
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