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Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has agreed to sign the European Union’s new AI code of practice, but has expressed a number of concerns with the voluntary code.
The EU code of practice for general-purpose AI (GPAI), which is a voluntary framework set to go into effect on 2 August, was published earlier this month and sets requirements for makers of general-purpose AI models, such as not using pirated content for training, providing and updating documentation regarding their AI tools and requiring them to abide by the requests of content owners to not have their data used for AI training.
In addition, the AI Act itself will define “high-risk” use cases for AI, such as with facial recognition and biometrics and regarding education and employment, and outlaw some “unacceptable risk” use cases such as behavioural manipulation.
Now, Alphabet has said that it will sign the code, setting itself apart from a number of other tech giants that have distanced themselves from the EU proposal.
“We will join several other companies, including US model providers, in signing the European Union’s General Purpose AI Code of Practice,” said Google and Alphabet’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker.
“We do so with the hope that this code, as applied, will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available. Prompt and widespread deployment is important.”
However, Walker said that, like many organisations, the company has concerns regarding the code’s capability of potentially slowing AI development.
“We remain concerned that the AI Act and Code risk slowing Europe’s development and deployment of AI,” he said.
“In particular, departures from EU copyright law, steps that slow approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could chill European model development and deployment, harming Europe’s competitiveness.”
Unlike Google, Meta has refused to sign the code of practice, labelling the code and the EU’s upcoming AI legislation as “overreach” and said that it would harm the development and progression of AI.
“Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI. We have carefully reviewed the [GPAI], and Meta won’t be signing it. This code introduces a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act,” said Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, on LinkedIn.
Kaplan added that the legislation “will throttle the development and deployment of frontier AI models in Europe, and stunt European companies looking to build businesses on top of them”.
Meta is not alone in fighting the legislation, with Kaplan pointing out that “over 40 of Europe’s largest businesses signed a letter calling for the commission to ‘Stop the Clock’ in its implementation [of the legislation]”.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Mistral AI and more have also been pushing for the EU to delay the legislation, but the commission has said that the set date will remain the same.
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