Google has announced its intention to sign the European Union’s (EU) general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) code of practice, aiming to help companies comply with the bloc’s landmark AI rules.
According to Kent Walker, Google’s global affairs president and chief legal officer, the company hopes that the code will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available.
However, Walker also voiced concerns that the AI Act and code of practice risk slowing down Europe’s development and deployment of AI.
A Look at the EU’s AI Code of Practice
The EU’s AI Code of Practice is a voluntary framework designed to assist AI developers in establishing processes and systems that comply with the bloc’s upcoming AI Act.
The code outlines a set of guidelines that AI firms must follow, including:
- Offering updated documentation about their AI tools and services
- Not training AI on pirated content
- Complying with requests from content owners not to use their works in datasets
The code was drawn up by 13 independent experts and aims to offer legal certainty on how to meet requirements under the upcoming AI Act.
Concerns Over Compliance and Competitiveness
Walker highlighted specific issues that could hamper European AI development and deployment, such as:
- Departures from EU copyright law
- Steps that slow approvals
- Requirements exposing trade secrets
He argued that these issues would hurt Europe’s competitiveness in the global tech landscape, making it difficult for European AI firms to compete with their global counterparts.
A Call to Action
While signing the EU’s AI Code of Practice is a significant step forward, it’s essential for AI developers and EU policymakers to address the concerns surrounding compliance and competitiveness.
By finding a balance between promoting AI innovation and protecting intellectual property rights, we can ensure that Europe remains a hub for AI development and deployment.
