"Made in Germany" could become a symbol of excellence for AI systems.

"Germany-made" could be a trusted mark for artificial intelligence.

The European Union is implementing an extensive set of rules for the utilization of artificial intelligence, as per the recent AI regulation. Critics from the business community argue that these guidelines are hefty and overly bureaucratic. Nevertheless, Franziska Brantner, who played a significant role in hammering out the legislation for Germany, is confident that these regulations will provide Europe with a strategic edge in this cutting-edge industry.

The long-awaited EU AI regulation is about to be officially adopted, facilitating an intricate framework for AI usage. Critics from the business sector claim that the rules are overly bureaucratic and complex. In contrast, Franziska Brantner, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Minister of Economic Affairs who played a key role in negotiating the law, maintains that these regulations can help Europe capitalize on its advantageous position in this nascent industry.

In an interview with ntv.de, Brantner addressed the critics' concerns over the 900-page length of the regulation and its potential to overwhelm European AI sector:

tv.de: The new regulations span 900 pages. Is that enough to hinder the growth of the burgeoning AI market in Europe?

Franziska Brantner: While the legislation does create legal certainty for the innovative aspects of AI, it also aims to mitigate the associated risks. This risk-based approach is admittedly intricate. However, if we had resorted to either prohibiting AI entirely or allowing it unfettered usage, the guidelines would have been much shorter. I believe that taking a more nuanced approach is justified.

Although the regulations introduce bureaucracy, such as the creation of norms and standards, the absence of these stipulations in other locations, especially the United States, poses a threat to Europe's attractiveness for AI development. To prevent this, the German federal government is working closely with the business community to ensure a streamlined implementation of the laws.

Although these guidelines might appear daunting, the US modus operandi might not be as drastically different compared to Europe's. However, the presence of disparate regional regulations in the US hampers the establishment of a uniform market. In contrast, Europe is assembling a comprehensive framework for AI, which could potentially foster a large and competitive market. Developing common norms and standards - something Europeans are reputed for - can be a competitive edge in the AI industry. Germany's reputation for producing reliable "Made in Germany" products could equally apply to AI technology.

Europe's prospects appear promising, especially given the potential in industrial AI applications, wherein German and European engineering giants excel. By seamlessly incorporating AI with their expertise and production data, these companies could create ultra-efficient and high-performing machinery, providing a significant competitive advantage.

Just as AI holds immense potential, it also involves various risks, such as the spread of misinformation and malicious content. This technology is becoming increasingly influential in all aspects of life, which warrants European regulatory involvement. The issue of AI-generated content raising concerns about its authenticity and potentially exacerbating the issue of hate speech is a significant concern. European platforms, in comparison to their American counterparts, have limited control over the content, a phenomenon that requires European intervention. While it may be challenging to combat misleading information, the Digital Services Act empowers the EU Commission to act against major platforms disregarding the law. Furthermore, the AI regulation introduces the responsibility of disclosing the usage of AI. This transparency measure can help users make informed choices about their information consumption and safeguard democracy.

Earlier, we didn't possess any solid European laws to address this dilemma. Now, I'm thrilled that we've found a solution to that. The crucial aspect now is maintaining a regular implementation, which is where the European Commission comes into play. They have already begun legal proceedings against Tiktok and Meta, for instance, and the penalties can be severe. Additionally, the emergence of the AI Regulation grants us a method to protect intellectual property, or else we'd be left behind in Europe. Academics, writers, and artists must also retain rights over their work in the AI era. Considering this, when we discuss security and sovereignty, I view this as a part of the equation.

An additional query arises: will an artist, a writer, or even a small German company be able to claim their rights against the ICT juggernauts dominating the market?

The AI Regulation not just grants rights to intellectual property owners; it also incorporates transparency obligations, grievance and legal action guidelines, and an AI Office at the European level as the key actor with a comprehensive comprehension of and approach to issues with providers.

OpenAI and other significant companies offering text, image, and video AI have been non-transparent about the data used to train their models, making it challenging to recognize copyright claims in the first instance. Will the AI Regulation alter this practice?

Yes, corporations will have to reveal these data sets to customers. We've made it an explicit condition in the law.

Do you find it acceptable if providers opt not to offer specific, potentially robust AI models in Europe because they don't want to disclose their data?

Let's witness the outcomes. The AI Regulation fosters recognition for intellectual property. Let's strive to safeguard this.

Read also:

In light of the EU's AI regulation, the Federal Ministry of Economics is collaborating with the business community to implement the new legislation smoothly in Germany.

Franziska Brantner, a member of the German Federal Government and the Alliance 90/The Greens, supports the EU's AI regulations, believing they can help Europe capitalize on its advantages in the field of artificial intelligence.

Source: www.ntv.de