OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said that he has “no plans” to pull chatbot ChatGPT from Europe, despite the proposed new EU regulations that may limit its use. In a tweet, Altman highlighted a successful week of conversations with political leaders from across the continent and added that his company is committed to staying in Europe.
The warning from the OpenAI CEO came following the EU’s proposed AI Act, which aims to regulate the use of AI systems. Altman alluded to concerns that the restrictions imposed by the Act may affect the generative chatbot, and stated that OpenAI will try to abide by the regulations, but may choose to cease operating in the EU if the Act makes it impossible to do so.
ChatGPT has already been temporarily suspended in Italy for allegedly collecting users’ personal data, a practice that runs counter to European privacy rules. Debate on the use of AI systems has grown in recent months, with concerns over the potential that AI could displace jobs, and fuel the spread of misinformation prompting the need for a rulebook to be established.
Altman’s recent testimony before Congress opened up discussions on how AI systems like ChatGPT could in turn have an influence on elections and manipulate markets. OpenAI, which is supported by Microsoft, released the chatbot to the public in November 2022 and saw unparalleled success; within a month its 100 million monthly users made it the fastest-growing internet app in history.
While the implications of AI on various aspects of society have been widely debated, OpenAI’s commitment to remaining in the EU has eased many of the perceived tensions. Furthermore, Altman’s remarks have left little doubt as to the company’s interest in navigating the new regulations and continuing operations in Europe.
