A European Union (EU) initiative aimed at fast-tracking the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) got off to a bumpy start on 25 September, as major tech giants like Meta and Apple declined to participate.
The Artificial Intelligence Pact outlines voluntary commitments that serve as a precursor to the stricter regulations industries will face under the upcoming AI Act. Launched by former EU digital commissioner Thierry Breton, the pact aims to guide AI governance, though its non-binding nature and lack of participation from key companies have raised concerns about its effectiveness.
According to Politico, the Artificial Intelligence Pact is non-binding but is regarded as a precursor to the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which will officially take effect in August 2024. The pact encourages tech companies to comply with future AI regulations ahead of time, preparing for stricter rules down the line. However, most concrete regulations will not be fully enforced until 2026.
According to the European Union's announcement and IRIA News, companies such as Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung Electronics all signed the Artificial Intelligence Pact. AI startups Aleph Alpha and Cohere, travel platform Booking.com, financial services provider Mastercard, and consulting firm Tata Consulting Services have also been seen on the list of signatories of the AI Pact.
Neither Meta nor Apple appeared on the list of signatories, just hours before the official launch of the pact at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Notably absent were also Mistral, France's AI leader, TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform, and Anthropic, a prominent American AI company.
Commentators believe this indicates the pact has had a "rocky start." The inability to corral support from some of the world's top AI developers underscores how governments, including in the EU, continue to struggle with implementing immediate regulations on rapidly advancing technology. Despite clear warnings over the past two years about the significant risks AI poses, efforts to enforce swift controls have yet to catch up with its rapid development.
Though governments acknowledge the potential risks posed by AI, their policies struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of technological development. Tech companies, once supportive of AI regulation, have shifted their stance on regulatory oversight, and this shift in sentiment among some tech firms regarding AI regulation is becoming evident.
Meta recently launched a campaign cautioning that regulatory decisions have become increasingly fragmented and unpredictable. The company warned that, under the current trajectory, the EU could miss out on AI technologies with the potential to "dramatically boost productivity." This reflects growing concern over how new regulations may stifle innovation in the fast-evolving AI landscape.
Whether it's AI functionality or the App Store commission controversy, Apple has consistently stated that it will continue to engage in negotiations with the EU government. The EU's strict regulations have also raised questions about how Apple Intelligence will navigate the European market moving forward.
