In a landmark decision, the European Parliament has approved the world’s first comprehensive framework for constraining the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). This groundbreaking legislation marks a significant step forward in the global governance of AI, placing the European Union (EU) at the forefront of efforts to address the challenges associated with this rapidly evolving technology12.
The AI Act: A New Era for AI Governance
The AI Act, as it is known, works by classifying AI products according to their potential risk and adjusting regulatory scrutiny accordingly2. The creators of the law have emphasized that its primary aim is to make AI technology more “human-centric”2.
MEP Dragos Tudorache, one of the key figures behind the legislation, stated, “The AI act is not the end of the journey but the starting point for new governance built around technology”2. This sentiment underscores the EU’s commitment to ensuring that AI technology develops in a manner that is beneficial to society as a whole2.
The Global Impact of the AI Act
The AI Act is set to have far-reaching implications beyond the borders of the EU. Enza Iannopollo, a principal analyst at Forrester, has argued that the EU AI Act will become the “de facto” global standard for trustworthy AI2. This would leave every other region, including the UK, to “play catch-up”2.
The AI Act also marks a departure from the approach taken by other global powers. For instance, in October 2023, US President Joe Biden announced an executive order requiring AI developers to share data with the government2. However, the EU has now gone further by introducing binding requirements to mitigate AI risks2.
How the AI Act Will Work
The AI Act is designed to regulate AI based on its capacity to cause harm to society2. AI applications that pose a “clear risk to fundamental rights” will be banned2. This includes certain applications that involve the processing of biometric data2.
High-risk AI systems, such as those used in critical infrastructure, education, healthcare, law enforcement, border management, or elections, will have to comply with strict requirements2. On the other hand, low-risk services, such as spam filters, will face the lightest regulation2.
The Act also creates provisions to tackle risks posed by the systems underpinning generative AI tools and chatbots2. Producers of some so-called general-purpose AI systems will be required to be transparent about the material used to train their models and to comply with EU copyright law2.
Conclusion
The approval of the AI Act by the European Parliament marks the beginning of a new era in AI governance. As the world’s first comprehensive AI law, it sets a precedent for other nations to follow. The Act’s focus on mitigating the risks of AI and promoting a human-centric approach to AI development represents a significant step forward in ensuring that AI technology evolves in a manner that is beneficial to all of society.
