Speculation abounds that the European Union is considering implementing more stringent regulations on large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models, as per a report shared by Bloomberg. The said models are, for example, OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Meta’s Llama 2. Supposedly, the European Commission, European Parliament, and various EU member states are engaged in discussions about the prospective implications of these large-scale language models (LLMs) and whether they necessitate additional restrictions.
Sources expressed that the intent behind such measures would be to control large models without overburdening start-ups with an abundance of regulations. A consensus on the matter is yet to be reached by the negotiators; however, it’s clear any agreement reached will be tentative at best.
If implemented, the forthcoming AI Act, coupled with the new proposed regulations for LLMs, would mirror the approach adopted by the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Enforced by EU lawmakers, the DSA mandates that platforms and websites adhere to standards aimed at safeguarding user data and mitigating illegal online activity. Strengthened controls apply to the web’s largest platforms, such as Alphabet Inc. and Meta Inc., which had until August 28 to update their service practices to align with the new EU standards.
The AI Act, aligned with the proposals for the LLMs, emerges as one of the first obligatory rules for AI set in place by a Western government. This legislation comes in the wake of China’s own set of AI regulations which came into effect in August 2023. While it has not yet been enacted, member states retain their rights to object any of the proposals recommended by parliament.
Under the proposed legislation for the EU’s AI regulations, companies involved in the development and deployment of AI systems will need to assess the potential risks, label AI-produced content, and completely prohibit the use of biometric surveillance, among other things. Nonetheless, these rules are still under debate. Some even argue that these moves may dampen innovation, while others believe they are necessary measures to ensure user safety and ethical AI deployment.
Whilst these regulations continue to stir discussion, it is undeniable that the future of AI stands at the crossroads of innovation, governance, and ethical considerations. The path that governments and regulators choose will have profound impacts on the development and utilization of AI technologies moving forward.
Source: Cointelegraph
