Europe Approves AI Law
2024-03-15
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1European Union lawmakers gave final approval to the 27-nation group's artificial intelligence law Wednesday.
2The rules are expected to take effect later this year.
3Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted in favor of the Artificial Intelligence Act, five years after regulations were first proposed.
4Major technology companies have generally supported the idea.
5But they want to make sure new AI requirements work in their favor.
6OpenAI chief Sam Altman suggested the maker of ChatGPT might pull out of Europe if it cannot comply with the AI Act.
7He later said his company had no plans to leave.
8Here are some details about Europe's new AI rules:
9Like many EU regulations, the AI Act started as consumer safety legislation.
10The EU took a "risk-based approach" to products or services that use artificial intelligence (AI).
11If an AI application is risky, then more rules cover it.
12Most AI systems are expected to be low risk, like content recommendation systems or filters that block spam, or unwanted email.
13Companies can choose to follow voluntary requirements and codes of conduct.
14High-risk uses of AI include tools used in medical devices or important infrastructure like water or electrical networks.
15Those face additional requirements like using what the legislation calls high-quality data and providing clear information to users.
16Some AI uses are banned because they are considered to present an unacceptable risk.
17Those include things like social scoring systems that are meant to govern how people behave.
18Some sorts of predictive policing and emotion recognition systems also are reportedly banned in schools and workplaces.
19Other banned uses include ones that police use to scan faces in public places using AI-powered remote "biometric identification" systems.
20There is an exception for use in serious crimes like kidnapping or terrorism.
21The law's early versions centered on AI systems that carry out limited tasks, like reviewing employment information and job applications.
22But general AI models, like OpenAI's ChatGPT, forced EU officials to add rules for generative AI models.
23AI chatbot systems that can produce lifelike responses, images and more are examples of generative AI models.
24Developers of general purpose AI models will have to provide detailed descriptions of the writings, pictures, video and other data on the internet that was used to train the systems.
25They must also follow EU copyright law.
26AI-generated pictures, video or audio of existing people, places or events must be labeled as artificially produced.
27These sorts of media are known as "deepfakes" because they appear to show real people doing or saying things that are not real.
28There are reportedly extra rules for the biggest and most powerful AI models that carry "systemic risks."
29Those include OpenAI's GPT4 and Google's Gemini.
30The EU first suggested AI regulations in 2019. Europe was quick to propose rules for the new and developing industry.
31In the U.S., President Joe Biden signed an executive order on AI in October.
32The U.S. Congress is likely to propose legislation. Lawmakers in at least seven U.S. states are working on their own AI legislation. And international agreements are possible too.
33Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed his Global AI Governance Initiative for fair and safe use of AI. Other major countries, including Brazil and Japan, are developing rules, as well as the United Nations and Group of Seven industrialized nations.
34The AI Act is expected to officially become law by May or June, after approval from EU member countries.
35Rules will start taking effect slowly.
36Countries will be required to ban unapproved AI systems six months after the law takes effect.
37Rules for general purpose AI systems like chatbots will start going into effect in one year.
38By the middle of 2026, the complete set of regulations, including requirements for high-risk systems, will be in effect.
39Each EU country will set up their own AI enforcement agency.
40Citizens can make a complaint if they think they have been the victim of a violation of the rules.
41And the EU will create an AI Office that will oversee the law for general purpose AI systems.
42Violations of the AI Act could be punished with a fine of up to $38 million, or seven percent of a company's worldwide revenue.
43I'm Dan Novak.
1European Union lawmakers gave final approval to the 27-nation group's artificial intelligence law Wednesday. The rules are expected to take effect later this year. 2Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted in favor of the Artificial Intelligence Act, five years after regulations were first proposed. 3Major technology companies have generally supported the idea. But they want to make sure new AI requirements work in their favor. OpenAI chief Sam Altman suggested the maker of ChatGPT might pull out of Europe if it cannot comply with the AI Act. He later said his company had no plans to leave. 4Here are some details about Europe's new AI rules: 5How does the AI Act work? 6Like many EU regulations, the AI Act started as consumer safety legislation. The EU took a "risk-based approach" to products or services that use artificial intelligence (AI). 7If an AI application is risky, then more rules cover it. Most AI systems are expected to be low risk, like content recommendation systems or filters that block spam, or unwanted email. Companies can choose to follow voluntary requirements and codes of conduct. 8High-risk uses of AI include tools used in medical devices or important infrastructure like water or electrical networks. Those face additional requirements like using what the legislation calls high-quality data and providing clear information to users. 9Some AI uses are banned because they are considered to present an unacceptable risk. Those include things like social scoring systems that are meant to govern how people behave. Some sorts of predictive policing and emotion recognition systems also are reportedly banned in schools and workplaces. 10Other banned uses include ones that police use to scan faces in public places using AI-powered remote "biometric identification" systems. There is an exception for use in serious crimes like kidnapping or terrorism. 11What about generative AI? 12The law's early versions centered on AI systems that carry out limited tasks, like reviewing employment information and job applications. But general AI models, like OpenAI's ChatGPT, forced EU officials to add rules for generative AI models. AI chatbot systems that can produce lifelike responses, images and more are examples of generative AI models. 13Developers of general purpose AI models will have to provide detailed descriptions of the writings, pictures, video and other data on the internet that was used to train the systems. They must also follow EU copyright law. 14AI-generated pictures, video or audio of existing people, places or events must be labeled as artificially produced. These sorts of media are known as "deepfakes" because they appear to show real people doing or saying things that are not real. 15There are reportedly extra rules for the biggest and most powerful AI models that carry "systemic risks." Those include OpenAI's GPT4 and Google's Gemini. 16What do Europe's rules mean? 17The EU first suggested AI regulations in 2019. Europe was quick to propose rules for the new and developing industry. 18In the U.S., President Joe Biden signed an executive order on AI in October. The U.S. Congress is likely to propose legislation. Lawmakers in at least seven U.S. states are working on their own AI legislation. And international agreements are possible too. 19Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed his Global AI Governance Initiative for fair and safe use of AI. Other major countries, including Brazil and Japan, are developing rules, as well as the United Nations and Group of Seven industrialized nations. 20What happens next? 21The AI Act is expected to officially become law by May or June, after approval from EU member countries. Rules will start taking effect slowly. Countries will be required to ban unapproved AI systems six months after the law takes effect. 22Rules for general purpose AI systems like chatbots will start going into effect in one year. By the middle of 2026, the complete set of regulations, including requirements for high-risk systems, will be in effect. 23Each EU country will set up their own AI enforcement agency. Citizens can make a complaint if they think they have been the victim of a violation of the rules. And the EU will create an AI Office that will oversee the law for general purpose AI systems. 24Violations of the AI Act could be punished with a fine of up to $38 million, or seven percent of a company's worldwide revenue. 25I'm Dan Novak. 26Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 27_______________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29regulation - n. a rule or a group of rules that control how an industry can carry out business 30comply - v. to do what is requested to be done or what is required by rules or law 31consumer - n. a person or group that buys goods and services that are not for industrial purposes 32filter - n. something that permits only what is wanted through while blocking unwanted things 33codes of conduct -n. a set of rules that a group of people or businesses agrees to usually voluntarily 34infrastructure - n. the structures and systems that are needed for modern life like roads, electricity lines, dams and many other things 35scan -v. to use a camera to take a picture of a group of people to find a certain person 36biometric -adj. related to taking measurements of the human body to confirm someone's identity 37artificial - adj. made by people, not happening naturally; something that is not real 38complaint -n. an official statement of dissatisfaction that is presented to a public official with the expectation that the problem will be dealt with 39revenue - n. money collected by a business through sales, investment and other operations