Google Advocates for Balanced AI Regulation in Europe

As the European Union (EU) moves closer to finalizing its regulations on artificial intelligence (AI), Google’s Chief Legal Officer, Kent Walker, has emphasized the importance of crafting rules that foster innovation while maintaining a responsible balance. The EU is currently in the process of refining a draft proposal set forth by the European Commission, with the goal of reaching a consensus by December 6.

One of the central points of contention revolves around foundation models, exemplified by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which are AI systems trained on extensive datasets, capable of adapting and learning from new information to perform diverse tasks. Walker’s remarks echo sentiments expressed by numerous businesses and tech groups, all urging a careful approach to AI regulation to ensure it supports technological advancement, reported Reuters.

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“Technological leadership requires a balance between innovation and regulation. Not micromanaging progress, but holding actors responsible when they violate public trust,” Walker asserted in the text of a speech prepared for the European Business Summit. “We’ve long said that AI is too important not to regulate, and too important not to regulate well. The race should be for the best AI regulations, not the first AI regulations.”

Walker called for nuanced trade-offs in the development of AI rules, emphasizing the need for equilibrium between security and openness, data access and privacy, and explainability and accuracy. He advocated for rules that are proportionate and risk-based, building upon existing regulations to provide businesses with the confidence to continue investing in AI innovation.

As EU countries and lawmakers engage in intense deliberations over the final details of the proposed regulations, Walker’s remarks underscore the significance of finding a middle ground that allows for technological progress while ensuring responsible and ethical AI deployment.

Source: Reuters