Kent Walker, Chief Legal Officer at Google, has emphasized the need for an artificial intelligence (AI) legal framework that supports innovation. This aligns with the sentiments echoed by various businesses and tech groups as the European Union (EU) works to finalize AI rules by December 6.
As EU countries and lawmakers negotiate the details of a draft proposal by the European Commission, key issues include the regulation of foundation models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These models are AI systems trained on extensive datasets, capable of learning from new data to perform various tasks.
Walker suggested that Europe should strive for the best AI rules rather than rushing to implement the first set of rules. He emphasized the importance of finding a balance between innovation and regulation for technological leadership, avoiding excessive micromanagement while holding actors accountable for violating public trust.
In a speech to be delivered at the European Business Summit, Walker highlighted the significance of hard trade-offs, such as those between security and openness, data access and privacy, and explainability and accuracy. He advocated for proportionate, risk-based rules that leverage existing regulations, providing businesses with the confidence to continue investing in AI innovation.
Recently, DigitalEurope and 32 European digital associations cautioned the EU against over-regulating foundation models, underlining the delicate balance needed to foster innovation while addressing potential risks associated with AI.
