Nov. 8 ( News )- Brando Benifei, an EU lawmaker and a key figure in shaping artificial intelligence regulations within the European Union, expressed his expectation on Wednesday that the EU AI Act will serve as a foundational model for regulations adopted by other countries.
While various nations have been exploring methods to regulate AI, German legislators have taken proactive steps by formulating AI regulations designed to establish a global standard for this ubiquitous technology, which plays a vital role in almost every sector and enterprise. The draft guidelines may receive approval by the following quarter.
Speaking at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York, Benifei highlighted that “we have developed these framework opportunities that could be implemented in a different format, less stringent than the EU framework, but could potentially serve as a template for other initiatives across different regions of the globe.”
During the conference, industry professionals and experts underscored the importance of implementing AI security measures to mitigate risks to society and political systems.
In the United States, discussions within the Congress have revolved around enacting significant legislation to address the potential negative impacts of AI, including concerns regarding its influence on electoral processes.
A directive issued by President Joe Biden mandates that developers of AI systems posing risks to the economy, public health, or safety must report the outcomes of safety assessments to authorities before releasing them to the public.
Liz O’Sullivan, a member of the National AI Advisory Committee providing counsel on U.S. AI strategy, remarked that AI is inherently imitative rather than inventive, often replicating scenarios it has observed, including any biases present.
She suggested that potential AI regulations could encompass external stakeholder audits, risk impact evaluations, and mechanisms enabling users to disengage from AI systems.
The “Bletchley Declaration,” endorsed by Britain and 28 other nations, including the U.S. and China, was unveiled last week with the aim of bolstering international collaboration on AI safety.
Next month, the Group of Seven wealthy nations will adopt a voluntary code of conduct for businesses engaged in pioneering AI development, outlining how major nations will govern AI in light of security and privacy considerations.
Benifei noted, “We align with many of the issues addressed in the voluntary agreements observed worldwide, including in the U.S. However, we have enshrined these principles into law to ensure they are not merely voluntary commitments.”
He further emphasized, “We can establish these common frameworks as it is imperative to tackle overarching issues related to AI advancement, such as the potential misuse of AI for military purposes.”
