Negotiations are underway within the European Union (EU) to formulate a plan for stricter regulations on the largest artificial intelligence (AI) systems, according to a report from Bloomberg. The European Commission, European Parliament, and EU member states are engaged in discussions to assess the potential impact of large language models (LLMs), such as Meta’s Llama 2 and OpenAI’s GPT-4, and consider imposing additional restrictions on them as part of the forthcoming AI Act.
The objective of these discussions is to avoid burdening new startups with excessive regulations while ensuring that larger AI models are kept in check. Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement on the issue.
This proposed approach of the AI Act and the regulations for LLMs is similar to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was recently implemented by EU lawmakers. The DSA mandates that platforms and websites adhere to certain standards to safeguard user data and detect illegal activities. Nevertheless, larger online platforms are subject to more rigorous controls. Alphabet Inc. and Meta Inc., among other companies falling into this category, had until August 28 to update their service practices to comply with the new EU standards.
The EU’s AI Act is set to be one of the first mandatory regulations for AI established by a Western government. China has already enacted its own set of AI regulations, which came into effect in August 2023. Under the AI regulations in the EU, companies involved in the development and deployment of AI systems would be required to conduct risk assessments, label AI-generated content, and face a complete ban on the use of biometric surveillance, among other provisions.
However, it is important to note that the legislation has not been enacted yet, and member states still retain the power to disagree with any of the proposals put forth by the parliament. In China, where AI laws have been implemented, it has been reported that over 70 new AI models have already been released.
The negotiation of additional regulations on the largest AI systems within the EU reflects the growing concerns around the ethical and societal implications of advanced AI technologies. The EU’s efforts to strike a balance between promoting innovation and protecting citizens’ rights align with its broader ambition to shape the global governance of AI. As the AI Act progresses, its potential impact on both startups and tech giants will be closely watched, providing insights into the future of AI regulation in the Western world.
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