In a groundbreaking move, the EU Parliament has approved the Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to ensure safety and compliance with fundamental rights while accelerating innovation. The regulation, which was agreed upon in negotiations with member states in December 2023, has far-reaching implications for AI development in Europe.
The primary objective of the regulation is to safeguard essential values such as democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from the potential risks posed by “high-risk AI.” At the same time, the act seeks to position Europe as a leader in the field of AI by fostering innovation. It establishes comprehensive obligations for AI systems based on their potential risks and impact levels.
Under the new rules, certain AI applications that pose a threat to citizens’ rights will be banned. This includes biometric categorization systems that rely on sensitive characteristics, as well as the indiscriminate scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage for the creation of facial recognition databases. Emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, predictive policing solely based on profiling, and AI systems that manipulate human behavior or exploit vulnerabilities will also be forbidden.
Furthermore, the act introduces specific obligations for other high-risk AI systems that have the potential to significantly harm health, safety, fundamental rights, the environment, democracy, and the rule of law. This includes AI used in critical infrastructure, education and vocational training, employment, and essential private and public services such as healthcare and banking. Such systems will be required to assess and mitigate risks, maintain use logs, ensure transparency and accuracy, and incorporate human oversight.
One key provision of the regulation is the right of citizens to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations for decisions made by high-risk AI systems that impact their rights. This empowers individuals and strengthens accountability in AI development and deployment.
The act also addresses general-purpose AI (GPAI) systems and the models they are based on. These systems are required to meet transparency requirements, including compliance with EU copyright law and the publication of detailed summaries of the content used for training. Additionally, more powerful GPAI models that pose systemic risks will face additional requirements, such as model evaluations, the assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, and reporting on incidents.
To support innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU plans to establish regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing at the national level. These platforms will provide SMEs and start-ups with the opportunity to develop and train innovative AI solutions before they enter the market.
According to Brando Benifei, co-rapporteur of the Internal Market Committee, the new act marks a significant milestone in protecting the rights of workers and citizens while banning unacceptable AI practices in Europe. The establishment of the AI Office will further support companies in adhering to the regulations even before they come into effect. The act places human beings and European values at the heart of AI development.
Although the regulation is still subject to a final lawyer-linguist check and requires formal endorsement from the Council, its adoption is anticipated before the end of the legislature. The act will take effect 20 days after its publication in the official Journal and will be fully applicable 24 months later. However, certain provisions, such as bans on prohibited practices and codes of practice, will be implemented sooner. The regulation of AI in healthcare, an area of significant interest, continues to be a topic of discussion among experts.
FAQ:
Q: What is the purpose of the EU Parliament’s Artificial Intelligence Act?
A: The act aims to ensure safety, compliance with fundamental rights, and promote innovation in AI development.
Q: What applications of AI will be banned under the new rules?
A: The act prohibits biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics, untargeted scraping of facial images, emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, predictive policing solely based on profiling, and AI systems that manipulate human behavior or exploit vulnerabilities.
Q: How will high-risk AI systems be regulated?
A: High-risk AI systems, such as those used in critical infrastructure, education, employment, and essential services, will be required to assess and reduce risks, maintain use logs, ensure transparency and accuracy, and incorporate human oversight.
Q: Will citizens have the right to complain about AI systems?
A: Yes, citizens will have the right to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations for decisions made by high-risk AI systems that affect their rights.
Q: How will innovation and SMEs be supported under the new regulations?
A: The EU plans to establish regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing platforms at the national level to support SMEs and start-ups in developing and training innovative AI solutions.
Q: When will the Artificial Intelligence Act come into effect?
A: The act will take effect 20 days after its publication in the official Journal and will be fully applicable 24 months later. However, certain provisions will be implemented sooner.
The Artificial Intelligence Act approved by the EU Parliament has significant implications for the AI industry in Europe. It aims to ensure safety, compliance with fundamental rights, and promote innovation in AI development.
The regulation introduces bans on certain AI applications that pose threats to citizens’ rights. This includes biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics and the indiscriminate scraping of facial images for facial recognition databases. Emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, and predictive policing solely based on profiling are also prohibited. These bans address concerns about privacy, discrimination, and the potential for AI systems to manipulate or exploit vulnerabilities.
High-risk AI systems used in critical infrastructure, education, employment, and essential services such as healthcare and banking will be subject to specific obligations. These systems will need to assess and mitigate risks, maintain use logs, ensure transparency and accuracy, and incorporate human oversight. This regulation aims to protect health, safety, fundamental rights, the environment, democracy, and the rule of law.
One important provision of the act is the right of citizens to submit complaints about AI systems and receive explanations for decisions made by high-risk AI systems that impact their rights. This empowers individuals and strengthens accountability in AI development and deployment.
To support innovation and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU plans to establish regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing platforms at the national level. These platforms will provide SMEs and start-ups with the opportunity to develop and train innovative AI solutions before they enter the market. This initiative addresses the need to balance regulation with fostering innovation and growth in the AI industry.
The adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Act is anticipated before the end of the legislature. It will take effect 20 days after its publication in the official Journal and will be fully applicable 24 months later. However, certain provisions, such as bans on prohibited practices and codes of practice, will be implemented sooner.
The regulation of AI in healthcare continues to be a topic of discussion among experts. This industry is of particular interest due to the potential benefits and risks associated with AI in healthcare settings. Further developments and discussions are expected to shape the regulations around AI in healthcare in the future.
For further information and updates on the EU’s approach to AI regulation, you can visit the official website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology at link.
The source of the article is from the blog rugbynews.at