As per a collaborative document reviewed by Reuters, there is an agreement among Germany, France, and Italy regarding the future regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). This development is expected to expedite deliberations at the German domestic level.
The consensus among the three entities dictates that both major and minor AI enterprises within the European Union must adhere to legally binding voluntary commitments.
The current focus lies on determining the stance of the European Commission, European Parliament, and EU Council in this emerging sector.
In June, the European Parliament unveiled the “AI Act” with the objective of harnessing the innovative capabilities of AI in Europe while mitigating potential discriminatory practices and health hazards associated with AI technologies.
During deliberations, the European Parliament proposed that the initial implementation of the code of conduct should target primarily prominent AI providers, particularly those originating from the United States.
However, the three EU governments have raised concerns about this perceived competitive advantage for smaller German providers. They argue that such a scenario could lead to reduced clientele and diminished trust in the reliability of these smaller entities.
Emphasizing the importance of universal adherence to regulations and transparency, the report advocates for a regulatory framework without significant restrictions initially.
Nevertheless, a mechanism for enforcing penalties in case of code of conduct breaches discovered after a certain number of years may be established. The document suggests that moving forward, a Western regulatory body will oversee compliance with standards.
According to the German Economy Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Digital Affairs, laws and explicit directives do not govern AI per se but rather its applications.
The regulatory authorities do not oversee the development of specific types of AI unless they are already in operation or available in the market.
A contemporary summit organized by the German government in Jena, Thuringia, will be attended by representatives from businesses, academia, and politics on Monday and Tuesday.
Subsequently, discussions concerning AI are slated to take place when the German and Italian governments convene in Berlin on Wednesday.
