The planned rules for artificial intelligence (AI) in the European Union are taking shape: MEPs in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today voted by a large majority for conditions for the use of the chatbot ChatGPT and other forms of AI. The EU would be the first economic area in the world to enact regulations for artificial intelligence.
Applications like ChatGPT had recently caused debates in many European countries. This is an AI that answers people’s questions in writing and thus enters into a kind of dialogue. However, the veracity of the statements cannot be easily verified. AI can also edit images, which then appear deceptively real. Recently, a photo of the Pope in a designer coat caused a stir on the Internet.
After the vote that has now taken place in the EU Parliament committees for civil rights and consumer protection, a plenary vote is expected on June 14th. It forms the basis for negotiations with the member countries. At the end of last year, they had agreed in principle to regulate artificial intelligence.
“A step in the right direction”
“The EU’s AI Act is a step in the right direction,” said ÖVP MEP Lukas Mandl in a broadcast. “In general, I would like to see in the context of the AI discussion that we not only focus on the risks and regulations, but also on the possibilities and the potential,” said his party colleague Barbara Thaler.
Austria is to get an AI authority in the coming year, State Secretary for Digitization Florian Tursky (ÖVP) recently announced. You should make the classification of different algorithms. The State Secretary sees the development of possible AI seals of approval as a further area of responsibility of an AI authority.
