EU: ‘The world’s first AI law’

EU: ‘The world’s first AI law’

News: Thierry Breton (European Commissioner) recently declared that EU became the very first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI, after officials reached a provisional deal on the world’s first set of comprehensive laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI)

What is the EU Framework?
• The legislation includes safeguards on the use of AI within the EU, including clear guardrails on its adoption by law enforcement agencies, and consumers have been empowered to launch complaints against any perceived violations.
• For example, the deal includes strong restrictions on facial recognition technology, and on using AI to manipulate human behaviour, alongside provisions for tough penalties for companies breaking the rules.
• Governments can only use real-time biometric surveillance in public areas only when there are serious threats involved such as terrorist attacks.
• There will be penalties and fines for noncompliance based on a percentage of their global annual turnover or a predetermined amount whichever is higher.

Which risk classes does the EU framework divide AI applications into?
• Unacceptable Risk: AI applications that present an unacceptable risk are prohibited by default and cannot be deployed in the EU. For example, mass surveillance is banned, social scoring systems, cognitive behavior manipulation.
• High Risk: High-risk AI systems have specific requirements and obligations for AI developers, deployers, and users. For example, Self-driving cars, weapon automization, Deepfakes etc.
• Limited Risk/Medium risk: AI systems with limited risk have fewer regulatory requirements. For example, Generative AI.
• Minimal or No Risk: AI systems that pose minimal or no risk have the least regulatory requirements.

What is India’s approach towards AI?
• India has pitched itself as a country that has effectively used technology to develop and deliver governance solutions, at a mass scale. These solutions are at the heart of what New Delhi calls Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
• With sovereign AI and an AI computing infrastructure, New Delhi is hoping to focus on real-life applications of the tech in healthcare, agriculture, governance, language translation, etc., to catalyse economic development.