Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O), has announced it will sign the European Union’s new voluntary AI code of practice, designed to guide companies in complying with the bloc’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). The move comes even as the tech giant warns of potential risks to Europe’s AI competitiveness.
The code, developed by 13 independent experts, aims to give companies legal clarity on how to meet obligations under the AI Act. These include disclosing summaries of the datasets used to train general-purpose AI models and adhering strictly to EU copyright laws.
“We do so with the hope that this code, as applied, will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available,” said Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, in a blog post published Wednesday.
However, Walker expressed concern that aspects of the AI Act and the code might hinder innovation. He pointed to potential deviations from established EU copyright law, slower approval processes, and requirements that could reveal proprietary information as threats to the region’s AI development and competitiveness.
“In particular, departures from EU copyright law, steps that slow approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could chill European model development and deployment,” he warned.
The AI code is a voluntary but influential component of the EU’s broader attempt to set global standards in artificial intelligence, a field currently led by the United States and China. Microsoft (MSFT.O) has indicated it will likely join the initiative, while Meta Platforms (META.O) has declined, citing unresolved legal uncertainties for model developers.
The European Union’s AI Act, passed earlier this year, is the first comprehensive legislation of its kind globally, aiming to ensure ethical, transparent, and safe use of AI technologies while fostering innovation within clear regulatory boundaries.
Written By Rodney Mbua
