EU Committees Agree to Stricter Regulations on Artificial Intelligence
The European Union is set to become the first entity to impose comprehensive laws governing the use of artificial intelligence technology, after European lawmakers recently agreed to impose tougher draft legislation. The proposed AI Act will regulate all AI tools, including facial recognition, biometric surveillance, and generative AI applications like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Perceived Risk Levels
AI tools will be categorized based on their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable. Companies and governments using these AI tools will have varied obligations, depending on the risk level. The regulations aim to protect civil rights while promoting innovation and boosting the economy.
Prohibited AI Applications
During the vote, the European Parliament agreed to ban the use of facial recognition in public spaces and predictive policing tools. New transparency measures will also be introduced in generative AI applications to monitor their effects.
Next Steps
The next step involves finalising the details with the European Commission and individual member countries. The proposed bill will proceed to trilogue talks involving representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union. After the final terms are agreed, the bill is expected to become law after a grace period of about two years.
The EU's proposal to regulate AI aims to protect fundamental human rights and ensure that AI serves the people, society, and the environment. This move reinforces the commitment to making the EU a leading global regulator in the digital sector.
