The EU AI Act is the first ever legal framework on artificial intelligence (AI), which addresses the risks of AI and positions Europe to play a leading role globally.
The EU AI Act aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI, while boosting innovation and establishing Europe as a leader in the field. The Regulation establishes obligations for AI based on its potential risks and level of impact.
There are stages to the compliance levels affected businesses must adhere to. February 2025 is the second stage and will ban the use of “unacceptable-risk AI systems”.
Only businesses who supply an AI system to the EU and/or where a business’ AI system’s “output” is used or put into service within the EU need comply with the Ban.
The Internal Market Committee, Brando Benifei, said: “We finally have the world’s first binding law on artificial intelligence, to reduce risks, create opportunities, combat discrimination, and bring transparency. Thanks to Parliament, unacceptable AI practices will be banned in Europe and the rights of workers and citizens will be protected. The AI Office will now be set up to support companies to start complying with the rules before they enter into force. We ensured that human beings and European values are at the very centre of AI’s development”.
In its own assessment of the differences between the UK and EU regime, the UK Government’s White Paper said: “The EU has grounded its approach in the product safety regulation of the single market, and as such has set out a relatively fixed definition in its legislative proposals. Whilst such an approach can support efforts to harmonise rules across multiple countries, we do not believe this approach is right for the UK. We do not think that it captures the full application of AI and its regulatory implications. Our concern is that this lack of granularity could hinder innovation.”
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