The EU’s groundbreaking attempt to regulate emerging technologies, known as the Artificial Intelligence Act, has achieved a democratic consensus among the European Parliament members, EU Council representatives, and professionals from the European Commission.
Following over 36 hours of discussions spanning three days, representatives from these three entities have successfully resolved contentious issues such as anticipated police applications, facial recognition technology, and the utilization of AI in law enforcement. It is expected that further refinements to the legislation text will be necessary to enhance the societal impact moving forward.
Thierry Breton, the Internal Market Commissioner, declared on X that “the EU is leading the way as the first region to establish clear regulations regarding AI usage.” The significance of the “AI Act” extends beyond mere guidelines; it marks the starting point for European companies and experts to spearhead the global AI competition.
As noted by Dragoș Tudorache, a co-reporter of the AI Act in Parliament, “We are pioneering the establishment of comprehensive regulations for AI, positioning ourselves at the forefront of the AI-driven future, steering the advancement of this technology towards a human-centric approach.”
