Europe introduces first-ever AI rules, plus other AI stories to read this month

Artificial intelligence use in the European Union will be regulated by a new AI Act, which the bloc says is the 'world's first comprehensive AI law'.

The European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the act on 14 June, which will now enter a round of talks with member states before its final shape is confirmed.

The new rules include a ban on the use of AI for biometric surveillance, emotion recognition and predictive policing. It also called for generative AI systems, like ChatGPT, to disclose when content is generated by artificial intelligence.

“The AI Act will set the tone worldwide in the development and governance of artificial intelligence, ensuring that this technology, set to radically transform our societies through the massive benefits it can offer, evolves and is used in accordance with the European values of democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law," said Dragos Tudorache, MEP.

The World Economic Forum has launched a new AI Governance Alliance, an initiative focused on responsible generative artificial intelligence. The alliance aims to bring together stakeholders from across the globe to make sure we can harness the benefits of generative AI, while ensuring its impacts are equitable and sustainable.

"The AI Governance Alliance marks a significant stride towards responsible and ethical advancements in generative AI technology. Given its potential to transform businesses and societies, it is crucial that generative AI be developed and deployed with an unwavering focus on societal progress and human-centric principles," said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum.

It comes alongside the launch of The Presidio Recommendations on Responsible Generative AI, a series of recommendations to help navigate AI and take advantage of its potential ethically. The new recommendations come out of the 'Responsible AI Leadership: A Global Summit on Generative AI' event held in April 2023.

A new survey from the Centre for Macroeconomics (CFM) and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) of European economists has gauged their thoughts on the economic impact of AI. Most thought that AI is likely to boost global growth to 4-6% per year.

On 7 June, the UK announced plans to host a major global summit on AI safety. It's set to take place later this year and will consider the risks of AI systems and how they can be mitigated through coordinated global action.

The UK government has also announced that entrepreneur Ian Hogarth will lead a new initiative looking at the safety risks of AI.

Accenture has announced plans to invest $3 billion over the next 3 years into data and AI, including the addition of 40,000 AI experts to its workforce.

IBM and Adobe have expanded their partnership to enable content creation using generative AI.

Reuters has reported that countries in Southeast Asia are developing guidelines around the ethics and governance of AI. It follows agreement by ASEAN ministers in February on the need to develop an 'AI guide' for the region.

Generative AI is set to have a transformative effect on economies and industries around the globe, but AI governance frameworks will be essential. Read more about why the World Economic Forum has launched the AI Governance Alliance.

The European Union's new AI regulatory framework has echoes of its landmark privacy legislation, GDPR, writes Chandler Morse of Workday. What will it mean, and, in particular, how should US stakeholders and policy-makers respond?

Our podcast series on generative AI continues, and in this episode, we ask about the role of ethics and bring in a philosopher to discuss some of the challenges and considerations. Read on to discover some of the key talking points.