The AI Act Marks a Significant Landmark in the Global Governance of AI

"Charting Paths for a Global Governance of AI" is the result of the discussions held at a closed-door roundtable with ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission from several EU member countries and representatives from the technology industry, as well as a public panel with the Ambassador of Ireland to Spain and other experts, both sessions hosted by the Center for the Governance of Change at IE University on March 19, 2024.

Among the key topics covered by the policy brief are the following:

• The D9+ alliance and its objectives: The D9+ is an informal alliance established in 2016 by digital ministers from top-ranked European countries in the DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index) and other like-minded nations interested in exploiting the economic power of digitalization and new technologies through a Digital Single Market. The objective of this group is to advance the economic reforms necessary for deep digital integration.
• The significance and challenges brought by the AI Act recently adopted by the European Parliament: The AI Act is the first comprehensive regulation to ensure the safety of AI systems on the EU market and provide legal certainty for investments and innovation in AI, while minimizing associated risks to consumers as well as compliance costs for providers. The regulation follows a risk-based approach to AI regulation, with a categorization that ranges from unacceptable to minimal or no risk.
• The different existing views on AI governance and regulation: AI is not a technology inherently for good or bad; hence, from the design stage to implementation, its effects depend on us. Participants stressed the importance of protecting human values and rights in the development and deployment of AI technologies. Overall, there was a consensus on the need for urging cooperation between different stakeholders, including governments, businesses, academia and international bodies, to effectively address the challenges posed by AI.

The discussions held on March 19 by leaders from the public and private sectors, particularly within the context of the D9+ alliance, underscore the importance of cooperation to manage the societal risks and opportunities of AI. The AI Act is recognized for its potential to provide regulatory certainty for businesses and safeguard the Digital Single Market, while also acknowledging the need for flexibility and adaptation to rapid technological advancements.

However, there are concerns regarding the potential negative impact of overregulation on innovation and the risk of regulatory fragmentation. It is imperative that implementation efforts prioritize cooperation among countries and ensure inclusivity to avoid leaving regions out of the conversation on AI governance.

Despite these challenges, the AI Act represents a crucial breakthrough in AI governance and an opportunity for the EU to demonstrate global leadership in digital values and rights.

The March 19 closed-door roundtable and the public event, as well as this policy brief, are part of AI4Democracy, a global initiative led by the Center for the Governance of Change, with Microsoft as strategic supporter. AI4Democracy seeks to explore and promote ways to use AI to defend and strengthen democracy through coalition-building and intellectual leadership.

Click here to download the policy brief.