Daily Current Affairs : 23-May-2024
The European Union (EU) has recently delivered the world’s first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence (AI), known as the AI Act. This landmark legislation is designed to ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly and safely. Its goal is to balance innovation with the protection of society from the potential risks associated with AI systems.
Categories of AI Systems
The AI Act categorizes AI systems based on the level of risk they pose to society. These categories help to determine the level of regulation and oversight each AI application requires. There are three primary risk classes:
- High-Risk AI Systems: These include applications like autonomous vehicles and medical devices. These systems have the potential to significantly impact human lives and, as such, will undergo strict reviews and testing before being deployed.
- Unacceptable AI Systems: This category includes AI applications such as social scoring, predictive policing, and emotional recognition. These technologies are considered harmful to people’s rights and are therefore prohibited under the AI Act.
- Low-Risk AI Systems: These systems would be subject to lighter regulations, as their potential harm to society is considered minimal.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
To ensure that businesses adhere to the rules, the AI Act imposes heavy penalties for violations. Companies found in breach of the law could face fines of up to 35 million euros or 7% of their annual global sales. This high level of accountability is designed to encourage organizations to take the regulations seriously and prioritize ethical AI development.
Key Provisions for Generative AI
The AI Act also includes specific provisions for generative AI systems, such as language models and content generation tools. These systems are required to:
- Respect Copyright Laws: Generative AI systems must ensure that their output does not infringe on intellectual property rights.
- Undergo Routine Testing: These systems will be regularly tested to ensure they meet safety and ethical standards.
Ensuring Trust and Transparency
The primary aim of the AI Act is to promote trust, transparency, and accountability in AI technology. By introducing clear guidelines, the EU aims to ensure that AI systems are used for the benefit of society while minimizing risks to privacy, security, and individual freedoms. This regulatory framework sets a global standard, encouraging other countries to adopt similar approaches to managing the rapid growth of AI technology.
Important Points:
The European Union’s AI Act: The EU has introduced the world’s first comprehensive regulation on AI, aimed at ensuring responsible and safe use of AI technologies.
Categories of AI Systems:
- High-Risk AI Systems: Includes applications like autonomous vehicles and medical devices, which require strict reviews and testing.
- Unacceptable AI Systems: AI technologies such as social scoring and predictive policing, deemed harmful to human rights, are prohibited.
- Low-Risk AI Systems: These systems face lighter regulations, as their potential harm is considered minimal.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: Companies in breach of the AI Act can face fines of up to 35 million euros or 7% of annual global sales.
Provisions for Generative AI:
- Respect Copyright Laws: Generative AI systems must ensure their output doesn’t infringe on intellectual property rights.
- Routine Testing: Generative AI systems will undergo regular testing to meet safety and ethical standards.
Main Objective: The AI Act aims to foster trust, transparency, and accountability in AI technologies while minimizing risks to privacy, security, and individual freedoms.
Global Impact: The AI Act sets a global standard for regulating AI, encouraging other countries to adopt similar measures to manage AI technology.
Why In News
The European Union has finalized the world’s first comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence, known as the AI Act. This groundbreaking legislation aims to establish a balanced framework that promotes innovation while ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies across member states and globally.
MCQs about The European Union’s AI Act
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What is the primary goal of the European Union’s AI Act?
A. To promote the unrestricted development of AI technologies
B. To ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly and safely
C. To allow AI systems to operate without any regulatory oversight
D. To restrict the use of AI in non-European countries
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Which of the following AI systems is categorized under the “High-Risk” class in the AI Act?
A. Social media content moderation tools
B. Autonomous vehicles
C. Customer service chatbots
D. Emotion recognition software
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What penalty can companies face for non-compliance with the AI Act?
A. Fines of up to 1 million euros
B. Fines of up to 35 million euros or 7% of annual global sales
C. Suspension of AI-related operations for 3 years
D. Immediate shutdown of their AI systems
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Which of the following is a key requirement for generative AI systems under the AI Act?
A. They must be allowed to operate without any testing
B. They must ensure their output does not infringe on intellectual property rights
C. They must be banned from using any data sources
D. They must operate independently of human oversight
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