EU AI Code

Google to Sign EU's AI Code: Balancing Innovation and Regulation

Government & Policy

It looks like Google is ready to play ball with the European Union, even if they have some reservations. The tech giant has confirmed that it will sign the EU’s general-purpose AI code of practice, which is basically a set of voluntary guidelines designed to help AI developers get their act together and comply with the upcoming EU AI Act. Let's see how this goes!

The EU’s AI Act is a pretty big deal. It's a risk-based regulation, which means that it categorizes AI applications based on their potential risk to society. Some uses are banned outright, like AI systems that manipulate behavior or use social scoring. Other "high-risk" applications, such as facial recognition, are subject to strict regulations. I think it's a good thing, even though it will impact the development - safety first!

Even though Google is signing the code, they're not entirely thrilled about it. Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google, said that the final version of the code is better than what the EU initially proposed. However, he also expressed concerns that the AI Act and Code could slow down the development and deployment of AI in Europe. He specifically mentioned copyright law departures, slow approval processes, and the potential exposure of trade secrets as potential roadblocks. Makes sense, but you can't please everyone.

When you sign the code, you're agreeing to follow a bunch of guidelines. For example, AI companies need to provide updated documentation about their AI tools, avoid training AI on pirated content, and respect content owners' requests to keep their work out of datasets. Honestly, those seems like reasonable requests.

It's worth noting that Meta, another tech giant, has decided not to sign the code. Meta is calling the EU’s implementation of its AI legislation an “overreach,” and they believe that Europe is “heading down the wrong path on AI.” I think its a valid point, but every company has it's own views.

While Google is moving forward with signing the EU's AI Code, it seems like other companies might be putting up a fight. The question is: Will the EU's approach stifle innovation, or will it create a more responsible and trustworthy AI ecosystem? Only time will tell.

Source: TechCrunch