About our AI Act news
Latest news on the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, providing comprehensive coverage of the groundbreaking legislation aimed at regulating AI systems across the European Union, with implications for global tech companies and AI development.
The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), proposed by the European Commission on 21 April 2021 and passed on 13 March 2024, is a landmark piece of legislation that establishes a common regulatory and legal framework for AI in the European Union. The Act aims to classify and regulate AI applications based on their risk of causing harm, with categories ranging from "unacceptable" and "high" risk to "limited" and "minimal" risk, as well as a specific category for general-purpose AI.
The AI Act's scope encompasses all types of AI across a wide range of sectors, with exceptions for military, national security, research, and non-professional purposes. As a piece of product regulation, it focuses on regulating the providers of AI systems and entities using AI in a professional context, rather than conferring rights on individuals. The Act's extraterritorial reach means that it can apply to providers from outside the EU if they have products within the EU, potentially having a significant impact on the global AI landscape.
Following the rise of generative AI systems like ChatGPT, the AI Act was revised to account for the unique challenges posed by these powerful, general-purpose AI applications. The updated legislation includes more restrictive regulations for high-impact generative AI systems that could pose systemic risks, as well as transparency requirements for general-purpose AI.
The AI Act also proposes the creation of a European Artificial Intelligence Board to foster national cooperation and ensure compliance with the regulation. Member States will be required to set up their own notifying bodies to carry out conformity assessments, ensuring that AI systems meet the essential requirements outlined in the Act.
As the world's first major legislation to regulate AI, the EU's AI Act is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the development and deployment of AI technologies. Stay informed about the latest developments, debates, and implications of this groundbreaking legislation, as well as its potential impact on businesses, researchers, and society as a whole, with NewsNow's dedicated feed.