The European Union (EU) has announced new regulations that seek to control the expansion of AI technology in Europe.
As CNN reports, European Union lawmakers struck a deal on Friday agreeing to one of the world’s first major comprehensive artificial intelligence laws.
The legislation is called the AI Act and sets up a regulatory framework to promote the development of AI while addressing the risks associated with the rapidly evolving technology.
The legislation bans harmful AI practices “considered to be a clear threat to people’s safety, livelihood, and rights.”
The law comes amid growing fears about the disruptive capabilities of artificial intelligence.
In a news conference, Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, called the law “a balanced and human-centered approach” that will “no doubt be setting the global standard for years to come.”
The regulatory framework, which classifies AI uses by risk and increases regulation on higher risk levels, was first proposed in 2021.
The riskiest uses for AI are banned. According to the law, those include systems that exploit specific vulnerable groups, biometric identification systems for law enforcement purposes, and artificial intelligence that deploys manipulative “subliminal techniques.”
Limited risk systems, such as chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, or technology that generates images, audio, or video content, are subject to new transparency obligations under the law.
“The #AIAct is much more than a rulebook – it’s a launchpad for EU startups and researchers to lead the global AI race,” Thierry Breton, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market, wrote on social media. “The best is yet to come.”
AI goes mainstream: Resistance and troubles
The launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022 is the most notable type of AI that received attention from all over the world.
AI has become the talk of the town in various sectors such as schools and the creative industry including artists, musicians, and actors. When a technology can write school assignments and movie scripts after machine learning, it raises eyebrows for many.
Hollywood players including writers and actors held a historic strike this year that lasted for five months, starting in May, against AI, wanting film and TV studios to protect them against the potential of AI affecting their livelihoods. The strike later ended in late September after a strenuous process when parties agreed on terms.
The progress of AI, with researchers and scientists looking into its potential uses, has seen OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, fired shortly before he was reinstated in a scene full of drama.
The reasons behind Altman’s ouster are yet to be known. The drama had Elon Musk chime in on the issue asking that those concerned about AI should really know why they fired Altman.
There have been speculations, though, that the board and scientists at OpenAI were not seeing eye to eye with Altman’s ambitious AI goals.