European Parliament Members Approve Provisional Agreement for EU AI Act

The significant EU AI Act has moved closer to becoming law as two groups in the European Parliament approved a provisional agreement. Proposed last year, the EU AI Act stands as the inaugural formal legislation addressing the utilization of emerging technology. Its primary objective is to establish new regulations that define the parameters for AI usage across various industries, including oversight of foundational models like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s recently rebranded Gemini.

In an announcement on X, formerly Twitter, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) stated: “AI Act takes a step forward: MEPs in @EP_Justice & @EP_SingleMarket have endorsed the provisional agreement on an Artificial Intelligence Act that ensures safety and complies with fundamental rights.”

Already receiving support from EU countries, with France and Germany securing concessions, the EU AI Act still faces skepticism from decision-makers in the Big Tech industry. Critics express concerns about its potential to stifle innovation and the general wording of some requirements.

The EU AI Act is set to undergo a vote by the legislative assembly in April. If ratified, it will mark the implementation of the world’s first AI legislation.