MEPs Vote In Favour Of AI Act Proposal, Final Tripartite Talks Start Today

By a margin of 499 to 28 (with 93 abstentions) members of the European Parliament have approved a Commission proposal for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), setting up more extensive negotiations to take begin today on the draft AI Bill between MEPs, the Commission and member state representatives.

• Brussels-based journalist Rosie Birchard: "EU Parliament adopts position on AI act — final talks on first-of-their-kind rules to regulate artificial intelligence start today. Sticking points: Parliament wants to ban remote real-time biometric identification; member states will likely seek law enforcement exceptions."
• The regulation and development of AI is set to become a major political and economic touchpoint around the globe in the coming months and years. A broad view among many observers is that the US approach could see regulation be too lax, exacerbating risks, while the EU could prove too stringent thereby stifling innovation. The UK has sought to position itself as a 'Goldilocks' middle ground between the two, but it remains unclear whether it will gain the backing of political leaders in Washington and Brussels to lead global regulation on the issue.