The EU AI Act, proposed by the European Commission in 2021, will have
a major impact on the development and use of artificial intelligence
within the European Union. The Act stipulates that providers of AI
systems established in the EU must comply with the regulation, as well
as entities in third countries that introduce AI systems to the EU
market.
In July 2023, the spotlight turned to Madrid as Spain took over the
Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Spanish Presidency has in
particular focused on advancing the negotiations on the AI Act, while
addressing complex ethical, legal, and societal considerations,
alongside ensuring the promotion of a framework that cultivates trust
and facilitates the responsible and human-centred development and use of
AI technologies in Europe. The three-way negotiations between Council
of the EU, European Parliament and European Commission to finalise the
AI Act are now at an advanced stage, and the aim is to reach an
agreement before the end of 2023.
In parallel with the EU’s regulatory advances, a wide array of
international initiatives is in the making. G7 leaders agreed to
establish the Hiroshima AI Process in May, calling for creating
international guidelines that will also address the use of generative
AI, by the end of 2023. In the meantime, Council of Europe is also
negotiating a convention on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule
of law, due to be finalised in early 2024. Such initiatives will play a
key role until the AI Act starts fully applying sometime in 2026,
following what is expected to be a two-year implementation period. (...)
