EU reaches agreement on AI Act, sets copyright rules for generative AI

The EU plans to require companies that develop generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to disclose whether they use copyrighted materials in their systems. The agreement paves the way for the AI Act, which could be the world’s first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence and is expected to have global implications.

On April 27, after months of tense negotiations, members of the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal for the AI Act, which requires companies that deploy generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to disclose how they develop their systems and what data they use.

The EU said that the AI Act aims to ensure that AI is trustworthy, human-centric and respects fundamental rights and values.

According to the report, the AI Act also sets different levels of risk for different types of AI applications, and imposes corresponding obligations and sanctions. For example, high-risk AI systems, such as those used in health care or law enforcement, will be subject to strict requirements on data quality, transparency and human oversight.