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Germany, France, and Italy have reached a significant agreement on the future regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), as revealed in a joint paper. The accord is poised to expedite negotiations at the European level.
The three governments advocate for binding voluntary commitments applicable to both large and small AI providers within the European Union.
Presently, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU Council are actively engaged in discussions to determine the bloc’s stance in this emerging field. The Parliament introduced the “AI Act” in June, aiming to mitigate safety risks associated with AI applications while fostering innovation in Europe.
During negotiations, the European Parliament suggested that the code of conduct should initially bind major AI providers, predominantly from the U.S. However, the three EU governments cautioned against creating a perceived competitive advantage for smaller European providers, emphasizing that rules of conduct and transparency should be universally binding.
While the initial implementation would not impose sanctions, the paper suggests the possibility of instituting a sanctions system if violations of the code of conduct are identified after a certain period. A European authority is envisioned to monitor compliance with these standards in the future.
Germany’s Economy Ministry, jointly responsible for the topic with the Ministry of Digital Affairs, emphasizes that AI regulation should focus on application rather than the technology itself. The paper asserts that the development of AI models not yet in use or launched on the market should not be subject to separate state regulation.
As discussions unfold, the German government’s digital summit in Jena will convene representatives from politics, business, and science. AI-related topics are set to feature prominently when the German and Italian governments meet in Berlin later in the week.
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