EU Approves Landmark AI Legislation: The Artificial Intelligence Act

The European Union (EU) has formally sanctioned the world’s inaugural significant AI legislation. Unanimously adopted by the Council of the European Union, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act will come into effect 20 days post its publication in the EU’s official journal.

A Risk-Based Approach

The legislation will adopt a “risk-based approach” to regulation, wherein “the higher the risk … the stricter the rules” will be. To facilitate this, the act will classify various systems and types of AI based on the risks they pose. Additionally, the council has established governing bodies to ensure the enforcement of the act: an AI office, a scientific panel comprising independent experts, an AI board, and an advisory forum for stakeholders. It will also tackle and regulate the utilization of general-purpose AI models.

Path to Approval

Initially, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement concerning the AI Act in early December 2023. Subsequently, the act received formal approval in Parliament in March of this year.

The endorsement on Tuesday marked the final obstacle before the act was enacted into law. The AI Act, being the first of its kind, aims to “standardize regulations on artificial intelligence.”

Standardizing Regulations

The AI Act will “enhance the functioning of the internal market” by establishing a “uniform legal framework” for AI systems, thereby ensuring protection for natural persons, particularly concerning individuals’ health, safety, and fundamental rights as safeguarded by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, “including democracy, the rule of law, and environmental protection.”

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