Some of the world’s biggest tech companies have signed up to the EU’s pledge for safe AI
The EU has announced that more than 100 companies have joined the new Pact for Artificial Intelligenceincluding technology giants such as Microsoft, Google and Vodafone.
The pact outlines a commitment to three core actions. The first is to adopt a governance strategy to drive AI adoption across the organization and work toward future compliance with the AI Act.
Second, the companies agreed to identify and map AI systems that are likely to be classified as high risk under the AI Act. These are the systems with the greatest impact on people’s lives, such as critical infrastructure, employment services and law enforcement.
A temporary measure?
Finally, the pact includes a commitment to promote AI knowledge and awareness among the workforce, to ensure responsible and ethical development.
As a voluntary commitment, the pact is not legally binding, and companies that fail to comply will not be fined. Meta was notably absent from the list, but the company has said it is open to future discussions.
However, the pact is a precursor to the aforementioned AI Act, which is expected to come into effect in 2026 and will form the largest legal framework for AI in the world.
By 2026, AI platforms are expected to be required to comply with copyright laws or face fines of up to 7% of global revenue. Systems deemed “high risk” will be required to adhere to strict requirements, such as activity logging, cybersecurity and risk mitigation systems.
Big Tech has been the target of major new EU legislation recently, with both the Digital Service Act and the Digital Market Act seeking to limit the power of tech companies and introduce tougher privacy rules.
The EU has proven that it is not afraid to hand out huge fines to organisations that fail to comply with regulations. For example, companies like Apple have chosen not to roll out AI features in the EU due to ‘regulatory uncertainties’.