ICTlogy

Abstract:

The European Union (EU) is taking a ‘harder’ AI governance approach than most other jurisdictions, setting up legally binding requirements to ensure AI technologies are developed and used in a safe and responsible way, minimising the risk of harm to the health, safety, or fundamental rights of EU citizens.

The rules for AI products and services that the EU is developing will have implications for companies well beyond the Union’s borders. They will apply to products and services that are commercialised within the European market as well as to those that, even if not introduced in the EU market, have an impact on physical persons residing in the EU.

Standards are set to play a central role in the EU’s regulatory framework for AI technologies. Developed by European Standards Organisations (ESOs) based on a request by the European Commission, European harmonised standards will provide the technical specifications necessary to support the implementation of the EU AI Act. Like most standards, the adoption of European harmonised standards is voluntary. However, if adopted, they will grant companies a presumption of conformity with specific EU AI Act requirements.