Scrutiny continues as the AI Act reaches implementation

After three years of negotiations and worldwide attention, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act entered into force 1 Aug. Attention remains high, assured Member of the European Parliament and former AI Act co-rapporteur Brando Benifei during a 25 Sept. Euractiv event. As it prepares for the hearings of Commissioners, "the European Parliament will scrutinize what is the prospect for the new European Commission, including what to do on tech," Benifei said.

In Benifei's sight, is the implementation of the AI Act, which he played a leading role in developing. Per the act itself, there is still work to do as the European Commission must

As so much remains to be done, Benifei assured attendees that Parliament "has a clear understanding, shared by the Commission, of the need to be very efficient in implementing the many pieces of legislation that were adopted during the last term, as well as complementing with other initiatives around: investment, common research, strengthening the financial markets capability to sustain these tech developments and continued training."

Indeed, the mission letters for the future College of Commissioners highlight how AI will remain a focus area. The future Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy will be expected to lead the work on boosting AI innovation, ensure access to supercomputing capacity for AI startups and industry within the first 100 days in office, develop an Apply AI Strategy to boost new industrial uses of AI, and set up a European AI Research Council.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament will establish a formal permanent monitoring group to implement the AI Act in mid-October. The group will scrutinize the Commission's and member states' work. It will focus on areas where Parliament has a formal role, such as the upcoming delegated acts, as well as take a broader look at the overall implementation process and institutional cooperation. "We need support from all the institutional actors for the AI Act to be a success," Benifei added.

He also underlined the role that the recently adopted AI Pact can play to support and anticipate the compliance process. "It is fundamental that we support businesses and public institutions to adapt to the AI Act rules even before they are fully mandatory so they are ready when the law is fully in place."

Isabelle Roccia, CIPP/E, is the managing director, Europe, for the IAPP.