The European Parliament on Wednesday approved the world’s first major set of rules that aim to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) systems according to a risk-based approach.
The Artificial Intelligence Act, which was agreed upon in December negotiations with member states, was approved by a majority of MEPs, with 523 votes in favour, 46 against and 49 abstentions. It will likely enter into force in May this year, five years after AI regulations were first proposed.
The Act will likely be received as a signpost for a global community grappling with how to regulate this unprecedented technology.
“Proud of Europe’s trailblazing #AIAct,” European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola wrote on X. “Artificial intelligence is already very much a part of our daily lives. Now, it will be part of our legislation too.”
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton described Europe as a “global standard-setter in AI”.
Romanian lawmaker Dragos Tudorache said that the AI Act is “a starting point for a new model of governance built around technology”.
“The EU has delivered. We have linked the concept of artificial intelligence to the fundamental values that form the basis of our societies. However, much work lies ahead that goes beyond the AI Act itself. AI will push us to rethink the social contract at the heart of our democracies, our education models, labour markets, and the way we conduct warfare,” he said following the passage of the act.
Under the AI Act, machine learning systems will be divided into four categories depending on the severity of the risk they propose to society.
Bans on prohibited practises will enter into effect six months after the legislation goes into effect, while general-purpose AI rules will apply one year after the act’s entry into force. The obligations for high-risk systems will come into effect in three years’ time. They will be under the oversight of national authorities, with support from the European Commission’s AI office. It will be the task of member states’ to establish national oversight bodies, with the commission telling Euronews that countries will have 12 months to make their nominations.