European Parliament committees voted to backdraft AI law and its changes to limit generative AI like ChatGPT.

The civil liberties and consumer protection committee MEPs overwhelmingly supported the proposed AI Act.

After the voting, a statement said the legislation limits technology use across Europe while permitting innovation.

Next month, parliament will enact the draught rules. Before becoming law, the EU member states and European Commission will finalise specifics.

The quick development of ChatGPT has revealed the benefits and prospects of advanced tech but also the dangers of fraudulent information it might generate, making AI laws increasingly critical.

After the voting, Italian co-rapporteur Brando Benifei stated:

We are about to pass historic legislation that must endure. Citizens must trust AI development. We believe our language blends fundamental rights protection with corporate legal certainty and European innovation.

AI Act?

The AI Act, proposed in 2021, would regulate AI-powered products and services.

Riskier applications will have stricter regulations and require more openness and accuracy based on AI’s four levels (minimum to unacceptable).

Predictive policing tools should be forbidden. Except for preventing a specific terrorist threat, remote facial recognition technology will be disallowed.

“To avoid a controlled society based on AI,” Benifei stated earlier Wednesday. “We think these technologies could be used for good and bad, and the risks are too high.”

Lawmakers amended the paper to classify ChatGPT and other generative AI as high-risk technologies.

The EU calls the measure “the world’s first rules on artificial intelligence” if passed.

The Thursday agreement between the two parliamentary committees is only the first stage in a long and arduous bureaucratic procedure that may take years before it becomes legislation across the EU’s 27 member states.