EU reaches historic AI development agreement

Following a 72-hour debate, European Union legislators have reached a historic deal on the expansive AI Act safety development bill. The legislation aims to set a standard for other jurisdictions and categorizes AI development based on societal risk. Banned uses include those that circumvent user will or target protected groups, while high-risk uses involve safety components or critical applications like infrastructure and education. The European Commission’s approach is seen as a risk-based strategy, similar to Canada’s proposed AI regulatory framework. France, Germany, and Italy had raised concerns about stringent regulations on generative AI models. The EC has previously released strategies and guidelines on AI, emphasizing the importance of human-centric regulation. Industry collaborations are underway to establish internal rules for AI development ahead of legal deadlines.