EU Parliament Approves ai Act: A Historic Step Towards Safe and Human-Centric Development
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Today, the contact Parliament made history by passing the ai Act—the first regulatory framework in the world exclusively governing the use of artificial intelligence (ai) systems. The legislation received an overwhelming majority of 523 votes in favor, 46 against, and 49 abstentions.
“This is a historic day,” said Italian lawmaker Brando Benifei, the co-lead on the ai Act. “We have the first regulation in the world which sets a clear path for safe and human-centric development of ai.”
The ai Act classifies systems into four tiers based on their potential risk to society. High-risk applications, such as self-driving cars, will face strict requirements before being allowed in the EU market. Lower-risk systems will have fewer obligations.
“The main focus now is implementation and compliance by businesses and institutions,” said Benifei. “We are also working on further ai legislation for workplace conditions.”
Dragoş Tudorache of Romania emphasized the EU’s aim to promote these pioneering rules globally. “We have to be open to working with others on how to build governance with like-minded parties.”
The ai rules will take effect in May 2025, while obligations for high-risk systems will kick in after three years. National oversight agencies will monitor compliance.
Reaction to the Act’s proper balance between innovation and protecting rights is mixed. Curtis Wilson, a data scientist at a company, believes that the strict rules and fines will deter careless developers and help customers feel more confident using ai systems. Ensuring all ai developers adhere to these standards is beneficial for everyone.
“However, Mher Hakobyan from Amnesty International criticized the legislation as favoring industry over human rights. ‘It is disappointing that the EU chose to prioritize interests of industry and law enforcement over protecting people.’
Companies now face the challenge of revising their practices to comply with the new regime. Marcus Evans, a data privacy lawyer, advised businesses to create and maintain robust ai governance to make the best use of the technology while ensuring compliance with the new rules.
“Businesses need to start preparing now to not fall foul of the rules.”
The EU Parliament’s approval of the ai Act signifies their intention to lead globally in this transformative technology. However, dissenting voices indicate that challenges remain in achieving the right balance.
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