Google has offered to partner with the European Union to create a “stop-gap” plan for Artificial Intelligence (AI) while the formal regulations for using the technology are being finalized. CEO Sundar Pichai met with Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, to discuss the initiative. A statement from Breton’s office indicates that the bloc wants to take a preemptive approach to the regulation of AI, and thus the “AI Pact” is looking to involve major European and non-European AI actors in this voluntary agreement. Google’s name is the only one associated with the initiative at this time.
Google has stated its commitment to following all EU rules in regards to data protection, online safety, and artificial intelligence, and CEO Pichai has agreed to help combat disinformation ahead of upcoming elections within the bloc. Unfortunately, there is no information on what may be included in the AI pact, though any such self-regulated agreement would lack real legal power and would be completely voluntary.
In the past, the EU has been successful in extreme tech giants to comply with its rules, most notably in the development of the two voluntary codes: one addressing online hate speech and the other concerning the spread of harmful disinformation. Again, these codes have not yet resolved these issues, but it is still a way to measure whether or not platforms are adhering to their self-regulatory agreements.
The proposed EU AI Act was released a few months ago and is currently in negotiations between the European Parliament and Council. The amendments the Parliament suggested in an effort to target generative AI are still uncertain, though it is believed the law will eventually be adopted. Even if there is an implementation phase, privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may be used to protect users and regulate AI applications.
By creating this AI Pact ahead of the legal deadline, Google and the EU are hoping to encourage international cooperation on the development of new rules and standards involving AI. Pichai’s commitment to assist in the process shows Google’s commitment to protecting users and understanding the part that the company needs to play in forming these regulations. Though the details are still unknown, this initiative is a step forward in establishing a global rulebook concerning AI technology.
