The European Parliament has now approved the world’s first legislation on artificial intelligence: the Artificial Intelligence Act. The law, which aims to regulate the use of AI, is regarded as a model for the rest of the world.
Although the United States has also taken steps toward AI legislation, including an executive order by President Joe Biden, the EU’s comprehensive regulations are expected to influence other regulatory frameworks. Concerns about the potential risks and ethical implications of AI are prompting governments around the world to address the need for robust regulations to ensure the responsible development and implementation of AI.
The EU legislation was passed by a large majority on March 14, five years after the original proposal was introduced. The legislation is designed to ensure human control over AI technology while harnessing its potential for innovation, economic growth, and societal development. Among other things, the law categorizes AI applications based on their potential impact and risk.
Among other things, the law regulates uses that threaten citizens’ rights, including biometric categorization systems that monitor sensitive or protected characteristics, as well as non-specific sources of facial images from the internet or surveillance cameras intended to build facial recognition databases.
Critical Infrastructure
Applications involving particularly high risks—such as critical infrastructure and medical technology—will be subject to especially stringent requirements, including requirements for the use of high-quality data and transparent user information. Certain AI applications deemed to pose unacceptable risks—including social scoring systems and predictive policing—are prohibited under the legislation. Of particular significance are the provisions addressing generative AI models, such as systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Systemic Consequences
In response to the rapid development of AI capabilities, the law now requires developers of such models to provide detailed disclosures of data sources and to comply with copyright regulations. In addition, measures are in place to assess and mitigate risks associated with the implementation of advanced AI systems, particularly those with systemic implications.
