As a matter of fact, The AI Act came into force on 1 August 2024, with full applicability over two years.
The first enforcement date for prohibiting certain AI systems from operating within the EU has begun. Among the banned AI applications are social scoring systems that assess individuals based on factors such as age, disability, or economic status, as well as predictive policing methods and systems that profile individuals based on personality traits to gauge their likelihood of committing a crime. Additionally, prohibited uses include untargeted facial recognition scanning of online content and emotional recognition technologies in workplaces or educational settings, with some exceptions for law enforcement.
The Act is the first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI) , designed to address the risks associated with AI and with a key target of positioning Europe as a global leader in AI governance. It establishes a group of requirements for AI developers and deployers while aiming to reduce administrative and financial burdens, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Key Objectives
The new act aims to promote trustworthy AI by ensuring respect for fundamental rights and safety, along with Strengthening investment; innovation; and the uptake of AI across the EU countries. It also aims at creating a governance structure at both European and national levels.
Why Rules on AI?
The AI Act aims to build trust in AI technologies. While many AI systems pose limited risks, others can lead to significant negative outcomes.
That said, the Act sets a group of procedures to address these risks, including prohibiting unacceptable AI practices, identifying high-risk applications and setting clear requirements for them, and establishing obligations for deployers and providers of high-risk AI systems. It also requires conformity assessments before AI systems are placed on the market.
Enforcement and Implementation
The European AI Office, established in February 2024, will oversee the enforcement of the AI Act in collaboration with member states.
What Are We Expecting Over The Coming Two Years?
The application of the Act will include prohibitions effective after six months, governance rules and obligations for general-purpose AI after 12 months, and rules for AI embedded in regulated products after 36 months.