Google Confirms It Will Sign the EU AI Code of Practice (arstechnica.com) 11
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: In a rare move, Google has confirmed it will sign the European Union's AI Code of Practice, a framework it initially opposed for being too harsh. However, Google isn't totally on board with Europe's efforts to rein in the AI explosion. The company's head of global affairs, Kent Walker, noted that the code could stifle innovation if it's not applied carefully, and that's something Google hopes to prevent. While Google was initially opposed to the Code of Practice, Walker says the input it has provided to the European Commission has been well-received, and the result is a legal framework it believes can provide Europe with access to "secure, first-rate AI tools." The company claims that the expansion of such tools on the continent could boost the economy by 8 percent (about 1.8 trillion euros) annually by 2034.
These supposed economic gains are being dangled like bait to entice business interests in the EU to align with Google on the Code of Practice. While the company is signing the agreement, it appears interested in influencing the way it is implemented. Walker says Google remains concerned that tightening copyright guidelines and forced disclosure of possible trade secrets could slow innovation. Having a seat at the table could make it easier to bend the needle of regulation than if it followed some of its competitors in eschewing voluntary compliance. [...] The AI Code of Practice aims to provide AI firms with a bit more certainty in the face of a shifting landscape. It was developed with the input of more than 1,000 citizen groups, academics, and industry experts. The EU Commission says companies that adopt the voluntary code will enjoy a lower bureaucratic burden, easing compliance with the block's AI Act, which came into force last year.
Under the terms of the code, Google will have to publish summaries of its model training data and disclose additional model features to regulators. The code also includes guidance on how firms should manage safety and security in compliance with the AI Act. Likewise, it includes paths to align a company's model development with EU copyright law as it pertains to AI, a sore spot for Google and others. Companies like Meta that don't sign the code will not escape regulation. All AI companies operating in Europe will have to abide by the AI Act, which includes the most detailed regulatory framework for generative AI systems in the world. The law bans high-risk uses of AI like intentional deception or manipulation of users, social scoring systems, and real-time biometric scanning in public spaces. Companies that violate the rules in the AI Act could be hit with fines as high as 35 million euros ($40.1 million) or up to 7 percent of the offender's global revenue.
These supposed economic gains are being dangled like bait to entice business interests in the EU to align with Google on the Code of Practice. While the company is signing the agreement, it appears interested in influencing the way it is implemented. Walker says Google remains concerned that tightening copyright guidelines and forced disclosure of possible trade secrets could slow innovation. Having a seat at the table could make it easier to bend the needle of regulation than if it followed some of its competitors in eschewing voluntary compliance. [...] The AI Code of Practice aims to provide AI firms with a bit more certainty in the face of a shifting landscape. It was developed with the input of more than 1,000 citizen groups, academics, and industry experts. The EU Commission says companies that adopt the voluntary code will enjoy a lower bureaucratic burden, easing compliance with the block's AI Act, which came into force last year.
Under the terms of the code, Google will have to publish summaries of its model training data and disclose additional model features to regulators. The code also includes guidance on how firms should manage safety and security in compliance with the AI Act. Likewise, it includes paths to align a company's model development with EU copyright law as it pertains to AI, a sore spot for Google and others. Companies like Meta that don't sign the code will not escape regulation. All AI companies operating in Europe will have to abide by the AI Act, which includes the most detailed regulatory framework for generative AI systems in the world. The law bans high-risk uses of AI like intentional deception or manipulation of users, social scoring systems, and real-time biometric scanning in public spaces. Companies that violate the rules in the AI Act could be hit with fines as high as 35 million euros ($40.1 million) or up to 7 percent of the offender's global revenue.
Signing and following are different things. (Score:2)
This is Google. They'll agree to anything that allows them to sell more shit. The test will be whether they actually follow the code, or if it will just be another test in the courts when they inevitably ignore it in favor of whatever they feel like doing. My guess would be that'll happen sooner, rather than later, and if the ultimate penalty for that is essentially a fine on the "shake out the couch cushions" level, they'll already have factored it into the price of doing business in the EU.
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Have you seen the fines the EU has been handing out? Many of these hurt. This is not the US where almost every politico is bought and "fines" are symbolic only.
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Have you seen the fines the EU has been handing out? Many of these hurt. This is not the US where almost every politico is bought and "fines" are symbolic only.
If they have to keep handing them out, they don't hurt enough. Yet.
in other words (Score:2)
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Obviously. I mean, we have seen this before, for example on RoHS. Regulation is needed, and the US and the rest of the world is not doing it. Hence the EU does. And every global enterprise pretty much falls in line sooner or later, because losing 550M people (actually a bit more as some countries are mostly or completely aligned with the EU in these matters) with generally reasonable to good buying power is not a small thing.
Ladder pull (Score:2)
Now that they have had advanced time to do all of these things that were potentially banned and profit from them, it is time to now stop anyone else from following.
These companies are always happy to jump on the regulation after theyâ(TM)ve had an established foothold and of course get to shape the regulation.
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You mean companies act in their own self interest? Well, there's a shocker.
Oh, good. (Score:2)
Now maybe they'll sign on to Asimov's Three laws of robotics. And maybe put "Don't Be Evil" back.
Don't any parents tell their kids "don't believe anything a company says, including "and" and "the" these days?
Contradictions (Score:2)
There was literally just an article "Google is Using AI Age Checks To Lock Down User Accounts". From what I remember one of the AI protections EU offers I actually agree with is prohibitions on exactly this sort of automated black box judgement.
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Indeed. And that is in the GDPR, i.e. very deeply embedded. Without that protection, Google can just screw you any way they like and you basically cannot even sue (unless you are rich, but then Google will flag you for manual processing anyways).