The European Union (EU) and the United States have announced a draft common “code of conduct” to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) on a voluntary basis by companies in the sector. This move comes in response to fears that China will take the lead in regulating this booming area. There is a global consensus on the need to regulate AI due to its revolutionary effects and associated risks.
The proposed code will be open to like-minded countries, and a draft is expected to be presented in the coming weeks. The European Commission is preparing a comprehensive and binding legal framework for AI that would come into force in a few years, while the code of conduct agreed with the United States will be voluntary.
The US and European countries fear that Chinese standards will be imposed if they do not act together. China is also working on AI regulation projects, including a safety inspection of AI tools.
The world has been surprised by the capabilities of this technology, which is dominated by large US companies such as Microsoft, Meta, and Google. However, the sector is advancing rapidly, especially with open-source platforms leading the way in terms of technology.
The speech by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, written in part by a conversational robot, stands out for highlighting both the revolutionary and dangerous aspects of this tool.
The main objective of this code of conduct is to show that democracies are taking urgent action in the field of AI and to avoid regulation being driven solely by China. The intention is to have a final proposal as soon as possible and to achieve broad adherence, including countries such as Canada, the UK, Japan, and India.