World’s First AI Law: EU Announces Provisional Agreement on AI Act

13.12.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to the Australia

On December 9, 2023, after three days of extensive negotiations, the Council and European Parliament negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the EU AI Act. This legislation marks the first-ever dedicated law on artificial intelligence, establishing a world leading regulatory framework to ensure safety, legality, trustworthiness, and respect for fundamental rights within AI systems.

The EU's AI Act

The EU takes the lead as the first global legislator to pioneer an AI law, setting a precedent similar to the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on data privacy around the world.

This visionary move aims to establish global standards for AI regulation, promoting the European approach to tech regulation on the world stage. The goal is clear: to pave the way for a global AI landscape that is ethical, safe, and trustworthy.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the historic agreement stating that artificial intelligence is already changing the lives of people every day, and noted it is just the beginning.

“Our AI Act will make a substantial contribution to the development of global rules and principles for human-centric AI" she said.

“The AI Act transposes European values to a new era. By focusing regulation on identifiable risks, today's agreement will foster responsible innovation in Europe. By guaranteeing the safety and fundamental rights of people and businesses, it will support the development, deployment and take-up of trustworthy AI in the EU."

Risk-based Regulations

Addressing specific risks, the AI Act categorises them into four levels, each with tailored rules:

Minimal or No Risks: The majority of AI systems with negligible risks can continue without regulation.
Limited Risks: AI systems with manageable risks are subject to light transparency obligations to empower users with informed decision-making.
High Risks: A broad spectrum of high-risk AI systems will be authorised but with stringent requirements and obligations to access the EU market.
Unacceptable Risks: Systems containing deemed unacceptable risks, including cognitive manipulation, predictive policing, emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, and certain remote biometric identification systems, will be banned, with limited exceptions.

Support AI Innovation and Investment

Beyond governance and enforcement, the AI Act aims to boost AI innovation within the EU. It includes provisions to foster a single market for AI applications, aligning with the EU's coordinated plan on artificial intelligence to accelerate investment in AI across Europe.