The Council gives final approval to the world's first regulations on ArtificiaI Intelligence

Today, the Council approved a landmark law designed to harmonize regulations on artificial intelligence, known as the Artificial Intelligence Act. It is the world's first comprehensive regulation governing artificial intelligence. This legislation aims to create a framework for the safe and ethical development and use of AI technologies within the EU.?

Classification of AI systems as high-risk and prohibited AI practices

The AI Act categorizes AI systems into different risk levels—minimal, limited, high, and unacceptable. High-risk AI systems will be subject to strict requirements, including risk assessments, data quality checks, and logging obligations. Systems deemed to pose unacceptable risks, such as those violating fundamental rights, will be banned outright.

Generative AI models, such as those used in chatbots and other applications, have specific provisions under the Act. Developers must disclose the training data used and ensure compliance with EU copyright laws. They are also required to label AI-generated content, such as deepfake media, to prevent misuse.

“The adoption of the AI act is a significant milestone for the European Union. This landmark law, the first of its kind in the world, addresses a global technological challenge that also creates opportunities for our societies and economies. With the AI act, Europe emphasizes the importance of trust, transparency and accountability when dealing with new technologies while at the same time ensuring this fast-changing technology can flourish and boost European innovation.” Mathieu Michel, Belgian secretary of state for digitisation, administrative simplification, privacy protection, and the building regulation

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Transparency and protection of fundamental rights

Before a high-risk AI system is deployed by some entities providing public services, the fundamental rights impact will need to be assessed. The regulation also provides for increased transparency regarding the development and use of high-risk AI systems. High-risk AI systems, as well as certain users of a high-risk AI system that are public entities will need to be registered in the EU database for high-risk AI systems, and users of an emotion recognition system will have to inform natural persons when they are being exposed to such a system.

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Measures in support of innovation

The AI act provides for an innovation-friendly legal framework and aims to promote evidence-based regulatory learning. The new law foresees that AI regulatory sandboxes, enabling a controlled environment for the development, testing and validation of innovative AI systems, should also allow for testing of innovative AI systems in real world conditions.

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Next Steps

The AI Act will be signed by the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council, and published in the EU's Official Journal. It will enter into force twenty days post-publication, with most provisions becoming applicable two years later. Specific rules, like the ban on certain AI systems, will take effect sooner

This landmark legislation marks a significant milestone for the EU, setting a global standard for AI regulation. It emphasizes trust, transparency, and accountability, aiming to foster innovation while safeguarding the fundamental rights of EU citizens.

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