Lewis Silkin - AI 101: The Regulatory Framework

Back in April 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for the Artificial Intelligence Regulation ("AI Regulation), which is currently making its way through the European legislative process. This draft AI Regulation seeks to harmonise rules on artificial intelligence by ensuring AI products are sufficiently safe and robust before they enter the EU market. The AI Regulation is intended to apply to what the EU terms "AI systems". The most recent iteration of this concept is defined (in summary) as all systems developed through machine learning approaches and logic, and knowledge-based approaches. This is a wide definition aimed to accommodate future developments in AI technology but extends to much of modern AI software. The broad scope of this definition is narrowed by the operational impact of the draft legislation, as the AI Regulation takes a'risk-based approach' to governing AI systems.