The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act)1 is one of the most widely discussed and anticipated pieces of upcoming legislations, capturing global attention with its approach to governing uses of AI technologies. Following intense preparatory work,2 and almost three years of complex political negotiations, culminating in political agreement on 8 December 2023, the AI Act is set to shape global regulatory space on how we innovate, manage, and perceive AI technologies. This opinion, drawing upon first-hand experience from the AI Act’s conceptualisation, legal drafting, and negotiations, offers a reflection on key decisions and the overall rationale behind this innovative and pioneering regulation.
Keywords: EU AI Act; trustworthy AI; risk-based approach; horizontal framework; product safety
Dr Tatjana Evas, Legal and Policy Officer, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium. All views expressed in this opinion are those of the author, and do not represent the official position of the European Commission.
