Europe's Proposed Limits on AI Would Have Global Consequences

The European Union proposed rules that would restrict or ban some uses of artificial intelligence within its borders, including by tech giants based in the US and China. The rules are the most significant international effort to regulate AI to date, covering facial recognition, autonomous driving, and the algorithms that drive online advertising, automated hiring, and credit scoring. The proposed rules could help shape global norms and regulations around a promising but contentious technology. "There's a very important message globally, that certain applications of AI are not permissible in a society founded on democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights," says Leufer says the proposed rules are vague, but represent a significant step towards checking potentially harmful uses of the technology. The debate is likely to be watched closely abroad.