Businesses and technology organizations cautioned the European Union on Thursday against excessive regulation of artificial intelligence systems, particularly foundation models, in the forthcoming AI regulations. They highlighted the potential detrimental impact such strict regulations could have on emerging startups, potentially driving them away from the region.
As EU nations and politicians enter the final stages of discussions on regulations that could set a precedent for global standards, this plea was emphasized.
Foundation models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, represent a contentious issue due to their reliance on vast datasets and the ability to continuously learn from new data for various applications.
DigitalEurope, representing leading companies like Airbus, Apple, Ericsson, Google, London Stock Exchange, SAP, and others, stressed the importance of fostering AI innovation through the use of foundation models and General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) to position Europe as a prominent digital hub.
The joint letter signed by 32 Western online associations supported a proposal by France, Germany, and Italy to restrict the scope of AI regulations concerning foundation models to ensure clarity, citing that only a small fraction of the EU’s AI unicorns originate from within the region.
Furthermore, concerns were raised regarding the potential conflicts between the broad scope of the draft AI rules and existing regulations in sectors such as healthcare. Siemens Healthineers spokesperson Georgina Prodhan expressed frustration over what is perceived as a lack of consideration for the healthcare industry’s implications.
In response to calls for addressing copyright issues within the AI regulations, companies rejected the notion, asserting that the EU’s existing framework adequately covers AI-related rights matters such as text and data mining provisions.
