Europe’s AI regulations face uncertain fate amid negotiations

[SHANNON LONGWORTH]

WHILE THE EU STARTED OUT PIONEERING AI REGULATION, EFFORTS TO GET LEGISLATION OVER THE FINISH LINE ARE HITTING A SNAG. ACCORDING TO REUTERS, LAWMAKERS CAN’T AGREE ON WHAT TO DO WITH FOUNDATION MODELS, WHICH INCLUDES GENERATIVE AI LIKE CHATGPT.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTRODUCED ITS PROPOSAL FOR THE AI ACT IN 2021 AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPROVED THE BILL IN JUNE. THE DRAFT RULES NOW HAVE TO MOVE THROUGH THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION.

BUT WE’RE CONTINUALLY SEEING TENSION BETWEEN THE DESIRE FOR UNSTIFLED INNOVATION IN THE COMPETITIVE AI RACE AND THE PUSH FOR REGULATION TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

EU NEGOTIATIONS ENCOUNTERED OBSTACLES WHEN FRANCE, GERMANY AND ITALY ADOPTED POSITIONS AGAINST HARD RULES FOR FOUNDATION MODELS.

ACCORDING TO POLITICO, THE THREE COUNTIES PENNED A PAPER, SUGGESTING THAT COMPANIES SELF-REGULATE FOUNDATION MODELS. THE PAPER REPORTEDLY SAID THAT EUROPE NEEDS A “REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WHICH FOSTERS INNOVATION AND COMPETITION, SO THAT EUROPEAN PLAYERS CAN EMERGE AND CARRY OUR VOICE AND VALUES IN THE GLOBAL RACE OF AI.”

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE HASHED OUT, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL TO COMPLETELY BAN PUBLIC FACIAL RECOGNITION.

TALKS ON WEDNESDAY WILL MARK ONE OF THE LAST OPPORTUNITIES, AS THEY NEED TO AGREE ON A FINAL VERSION BEFORE THEY START CAMPAIGNING FOR ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR. IF IT DOESN’T HAPPEN IN TIME, NEW EU LEADERS COULD HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON AI AND THE LEGISLATION COULD FALL APART.

WHILE EU NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING, CHINA HAS MOVED AHEAD WITH ITS OWN REGULATION, WHICH TOOK EFFECT IN AUGUST.

HERE IN THE US, PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR AI SAFETY IN OCTOBER. AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT REQUIRES DEVELOPERS OF FOUNDATION MODELS THAT COULD POSE A RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY TO PROVIDE SAFETY TEST RESULTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ONLY GOES SO FAR AND BIDEN CALLED ON CONGRESS TO ACT ON AI.