AI Wave Complicates EU’s Regulation Efforts

New advances in artificial intelligence have reportedly made efforts to regulate the technology more difficult.

At least that’s the case in the European Union, where the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGTP has complicated the debate among lawmakers who were set to vote on a landmark set of laws, Reuters reported Wednesday (March 22).

The report, citing unnamed sources, says lawmakers are at odds over various facets of the proposed AI Act. It’s part of a larger debate happening around the world, with critics calling for greater oversight of AI as big businesses invest heavily in the technology.

“The pace at which new systems are being released makes regulation a real challenge,” Daniel Leufer, a senior policy analyst at rights organization Access Now, told Reuters.

“It’s a fast-moving target, but there are measures that remain relevant despite the speed of development: transparency, quality control, and measures to assert their fundamental rights.”

As reported here last year, the AI Act is the EU’s most comprehensive piece of legislation on the technology to date. While the legislation will have far-reaching implications for many industries, the most impacted will be applications of AI that the EU determines as high risk.

Read more: US-EU Artificial Intelligence agreement proves there’s no time to wait for companies to act on AI regulation

As the proposal says, the Act “imposes regulatory burdens only when an AI system is likely to pose high risks to fundamental rights and safety. For other, non-high-risk AI systems, only very limited transparency obligations are imposed.”

While lawmakers in the EU continue to debate the topic, recent reports show some regulations happening at the corporate level, with nearly half of human resource leaders currently in the process of formulating guidance on employee use.

A number of leading financial institutions, including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, have forbidden the use of ChatGPT completely, while J.P. Morgan has placed limits on its use by its staff.

On the flip side, this month saw news that General Motors is working on an in-vehicle AI project, while Bain & Company and OpenAI are working on a project that combines Bain’s digital implementation capabilities and strategic expertise with OpenAI’s AI tools and platforms.

For example, patients are likely to feel more comfortable having their doctor review an AI-powered assessment before prescribing care. When it comes to healthcare, AI is better suited for automating back-office operations than “it is at performing back surgery,” that report said. “At least for now.”