The European Commission (EC) has established a pivotal office, dedicated to ensuring that the forthcoming development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only innovative but also responsible, thereby mitigating potential risks and fostering societal and economic benefits.
The new Office will help oversee how the EU’s AI Act regulations are applied, especially those dealing with general-purpose AI models. Its mandate also includes ensuring that AI research and innovation are trustworthy and promoting international recognition of the EU as a leader in the AI field.
The AI Office will help ensure a “coherent implementation” of the AI Act, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, explained in announcing the move yesterday. “The office will evaluate and test general purpose AI to ensure that AI serves us as humans and upholds our European values,” she noted.
The EU AI Act, set to be enforced by the end of July 2024, is a groundbreaking legislation, encompassing a wide range of aspects related to Artificial Intelligence. It is the world’s first comprehensive law on AI, aiming to safeguard the rights and safety of individuals and businesses, while also bolstering investment and innovation across the EU. The Commission initially proposed this Act in April 2021.
In January 2024, the Commission launched a package to support European startups and other measures to develop trustworthy AI. The Artificial Intelligence Office is one of those measures and comprises five units.
The Regulation and Compliance Unit coordinates and facilitates the uniform application and enforcement of the AI Act across the EU, working closely with member states. The unit will contribute to investigations and investigate possible infringements, administering sanctions. The Unit on AI Safety will identify systemic risks for developing competent general-purpose models and potential mitigation measures, including general evaluation and testing approaches. The Excellence in AI and Robotics Unit supports and funds R&D to promote system-wide standards of excellence, coordinates the GenAI4EU initiative, and encourages the development and integration of models into innovative applications. AI for Societal Good Unit will promote the AI Office internationally as a source for designing and implementing good AI in weather modelling, cancer diagnoses and digital twins for reconstruction. Finally, the AI Innovation and Policy Coordination Unit will oversee the execution of the EU AI strategy, monitoring trends and investment, promoting the benefits of AI through a network of European Digital Innovation Hubs and establishing AI Factories while fostering innovation by supporting regulatory and real-world testing.
The AI Office will be staffed by a diverse team of over 140 professionals, including technology specialists, administrative assistants, lawyers, policy specialists, and economists. This collective expertise will be led by the Head of the AI Office, operating under the guidance of a Lead Scientific Adviser, and an Adviser for international affairs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to AI regulation and innovation.
The Office will ensure the coherent implementation of the AI Act by supporting member state governance bodies and working closely with the European Artificial Intelligence Board.
