World’s Most Extensive AI Rules Approved in EU Despite Criticism

The European Union is enacting the most comprehensive guardrails on the fast-developing world of artificial intelligence after the bloc’s parliament passed the AI Act on Wednesday.

The landmark set of rules, in the absence of any legislation from the US, could set the tone for how AI is governed in the Western world. But the legislation’s passage comes as companies worry the law goes too far and digital watchdogs say it doesn’t go far enough.

“Europe is now a global standard-setter in trustworthy AI,” Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement.

Thierry Breton, internal market commissioner for the European Union

Photographer: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg

The AI Act becomes law ...