The EU proposal for the first ever legal framework on Artificial Intelligence

The European Commission published on 21.04.2021 the “Proposal for a Regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence” (“Artificial Intelligence Act”).
The focus of the European Commission on the matter of AI is on EXCELLENCE and TRUST and the proposal aims at boosting research and industrial capacity while ensuring fundamental rights.
The Artificial Intelligence Act follows the “White Paper on AI” published on 19.02.2020, which sets out policy options on how to achieve the twin objectives of promoting the uptake of AI and addressing the risks associated with improper uses of such technology.
This proposal aims at implementing the second objective for the development of an ecosystem of trust by proposing a legal framework for trustworthy AI.
The goal of the proposal, based on EU values and fundamental rights, is to give all users the confidence to embrace AI-based solutions, while encouraging businesses to develop them.
This effort also responds to explicit requests from the European Parliament and the European Council, which have called for legislative action to ensure a well-functioning internal market for artificial intelligence systems.