Von der Leyen ally slams EU Commission’s AI response

Axel Voss, a prominent German conservative lawmaker with a focus on technology policy and an ally of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament's EPP group, has criticized the European Commission's approach to AI regulation. In an interview with POLITICO, Voss pointed out that the Commission's working method is not suited to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Specifically, he expressed concern over the enforcement of the EU's 2024 AI Act, which requires companies to prevent their models from losing control. Voss stated that the current level of enforcement is insufficient. The comments highlight the challenges faced by the European Commission's newly appointed Artificial Intelligence Office, which took charge of enforcing the AI Act in August.

Voss also criticized the Commission's overall response to rapid technological advancements, noting that the State of the Union address by von der Leyen last week did not go far enough in addressing digital developments. A key area where Voss sees the need for additional regulation is liability for AI companies when their technology causes harm.

He argued that the Commission failed to consider liability issues from the beginning of its mandate. This issue could potentially impact all companies operating in the AI sector. Politico reported that other members of the European Parliament have proposed adding product liability provisions to fill gaps in the AI Act.