OpenAI successfully lobbied to weaken EU’s AI Act, avoiding high-risk classification for general purpose AI

OpenAI has been accused of watering down parts of the EU’s AI Act to avoid being deemed high risk. The documents show that OpenAI had allegedly lobbied the EU to ease regulations on AI, which the company had considered too restrictive. OpenAI is among a number of tech companies and organizations that provided input on the proposed AI rules. The company reportedly argued that its technology was not high risk and therefore should not be subject to the same regulations as other AI systems. The EU’s AI Act aims to regulate artificial intelligence across a range of industries, including healthcare and finance. It has raised concerns among tech companies about the impact the regulations could have on innovation and competitiveness. The controversy over OpenAI’s alleged lobbying comes amid growing scrutiny of the company’s business practices and its relationship with major tech firms like Microsoft. OpenAI has denied the allegations, saying that it is committed to ethical AI and that it supports the EU’s efforts to regulate the industry. It remains to be seen whether the EU will take action against OpenAI and other companies that sought to influence the AI rules. Regardless, the controversy highlights the challenges that regulators face in balancing the benefits of AI with the risks it poses to individuals and society as a whole.