The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) is a landmark regulation that has the potential to propel the bloc to the forefront of AI governance. This novel risk-based tiered approach aims to regulate AI systems according to the level of risk they pose, making it a pioneer in governing a technology as impactful as AI.
With the increased investment and broader socioeconomic adoption of AI, the EU AI Act aims to establish a horizontal regulatory framework across the EU to prevent the fragmentation of the EU single market due to the distributed nature of AI development and deployment. The Act is based on provisions from the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
Risk-Based Regulation: A Game-Changer in AI Governance
The EU AI Act’s risk-based approach is a significant departure from the traditional regulation-by-categorization approach. Instead, it focuses on the level of risk posed by AI systems, which allows for a more nuanced and effective regulation. This approach enables the EU to address tangible risks posed by AI systems and avoid overregulation.
However, the EU AI Act is not without its challenges. Critics argue that the regulation suffers from certain gaps, such as rigid categorizations and asymmetric risk assessments. To address these issues, the EU needs to develop evidence-based methodologies to explicate when and how AI systems cross the risk thresholds. Establishing more rigorous and transparent standards for risk assessment and management would allow the EU to avoid overregulation and address tangible risks posed by AI systems.
A Policy Template for Other Nations
The EU AI Act has the potential to become a policy template for other nations aiming to regulate the development and use of AI. As the first enforceable legislation for AI development, it sets a gold standard for measuring government policies globally. The Act’s risk-based approach has the potential to become a governance template for other states, allowing them to establish effective and efficient regulations for AI systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EU AI Act represents a significant step forward in AI governance. Its risk-based approach has the potential to become a template for other nations, allowing them to establish effective and efficient regulations for AI systems. However, the EU needs to develop evidence-based methodologies to explicate when and how AI systems cross the risk thresholds. Establishing more rigorous and transparent standards for risk assessment and management would allow the EU to avoid overregulation and address tangible risks posed by AI systems.
Originally published on https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-models-with-systemic-risks-given-pointers-on-how-to-comply-with-eu-ai-rules-10136055/
