Home / Technology / Google Signs EU's AI Code, Voices Concerns Over Potential Slowdown
Google Signs EU's AI Code, Voices Concerns Over Potential Slowdown
30 Jul
Summary
- Google will sign EU's voluntary code of practice for AI
- Code aims to help companies comply with upcoming AI Act
- Google concerned code and Act could slow Europe's AI development
In July 2022, Alphabet's Google revealed it will sign the European Union's code of practice for artificial intelligence. The voluntary code, developed by 13 independent experts, is intended to provide legal certainty to signatories on how to meet the requirements of the EU's upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).
While Google said it is signing the code with the hope of promoting secure and high-quality AI tools for European citizens and businesses, the tech giant also expressed concerns. Google's global affairs president, Kent Walker, stated that the AI Act and code of practice risk slowing Europe's development and deployment of AI. Walker warned that departures from EU copyright law, steps that delay approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could "chill" the creation and rollout of AI models in Europe, ultimately harming the region's competitiveness.
Microsoft has indicated it is likely to sign the code of practice, while Meta Platforms has declined to do so, citing legal uncertainties for model developers.