OpenAI's Altman warns EU regulation may hold Europe back on AI development
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has cautioned Europe about the risk of falling behind in artificial intelligence (AI) development. Altman highlighted concerns about European regulations potentially hindering the progress of AI technology.
Speaking at a panel discussion on AI at Berlin's Technical University, Altman addressed the EU's "AI Act", which is regarded as a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI on a global scale. He assured that OpenAI would comply with the law and respect the preferences of the European citizens.
Altman emphasized the importance of different regulatory regimes and the potential economic and societal impacts that may arise. He expressed the company's readiness to deploy its products in Europe swiftly, underscoring the significance of Europe embracing AI to avoid lagging behind other regions.
EU AI Act and Regulatory Environment
The EU AI Act was enacted in March 2024, with recent guidelines outlining prohibited AI tools deemed too risky. These tools include facial recognition databases built from online images and biometric data-based criminal risk evaluation systems.
While the United States is moving towards relaxed AI regulations, OpenAI took a step to assist European customers by enabling data storage and processing within the EU to meet local data sovereignty requirements.
Altman's Optimism and Future of AI
Altman expressed confidence in the advancement of AI, despite differing expert opinions on achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) surpassing human capabilities. He urged caution against premature limitations on AI progress, believing that significant AI milestones are on the horizon.
Furthermore, Altman is set to participate in an AI summit in Paris, highlighting the urgency for Europe to prioritize AI development.
In 2022, OpenAI gained attention for its AI generative models with the introduction of ChatGPT. The company plans to establish its first office in Germany later this year.
Source: doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
