STOCKHOLM/LONDON: Rapid technological advances, such as the ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence (AI) app, are complicating efforts by European Union lawmakers to reach an agreement on landmark AI legislation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
Emerging technology of AI
The European Commission proposed the rules nearly two years ago in an effort to protect citizens from the dangers of emerging technology and AI, which has seen a recent surge in investment and consumer popularity.
Before legislating the law, they must be worked out in a trialogue between EU countries and EU legislators. Several lawmakers expected to reach an agreement on the 108-page bill last month in Strasbourg, France, and then move on to a trialogue in the coming months. According to the sources familiar with the discussions, a 5-hour meeting on February 13 resulted in no resolution, and lawmakers are at odds over various aspects of the law.
While the industry predicts an agreement by the end of the year, there are concerns that the complexity and lack of progress may cause the legislation to be delayed until next year.
Big Teach, Big Problems
The EU discussions have raised concerns among businesses ranging from small startups to Big Tech about how regulations might affect their operations and whether they would be at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors from other continents.
Big Tech companies, which have invested billions of dollars in new technology, have lobbied hard behind the scenes to keep their innovations out of the high-risk clarification, which would mean more compliance, costs, and accountability for their products, according to sources.
