Inception of AI Office for Implementation
The European Commission has unveiled plans to establish an AI Office, tasked with executing the forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Act at the EU level, with operational activities expected to commence in the coming months. This new agency is poised to oversee regulations for general-purpose AI systems and function as a central coordinating entity for EU-level AI policy. Collaborating with other commission departments, EU agencies, companies, and the 27 EU Member States, the AI Office aims to streamline and harmonize AI policy efforts across the European Union.
Coordinated AI Regulation Framework
The announcement coincides with the finalization of negotiations among EU institutions on the technical details of the AI Act, which represents Europe’s initiative to regulate high-risk AI applications. The law categorizes AI systems into four main groups based on their potential risk to society, with high-risk systems subject to stringent rules before entering the EU market. Once available, these systems will fall under the oversight of national authorities, supported by the newly established AI office within the European Commission. The expected greenlight of the final text on February 2 sets the stage for subsequent votes in parliamentary committees, paving the way for the act to enter into force later this year.
EU Supercomputers for AI Startups
In a parallel move, the European Commission has announced access to its supercomputers for AI startups. The executive is set to create AI factories, facilitating algorithm testing by small companies and accelerating the scalability of AI models. This initiative is designed to reduce testing timelines from months or years to a matter of weeks. Access to these supercomputers is exclusive to startups lacking their own computing power and focusing on algorithms for scientific purposes.
Thierry Breton’s Perspective
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, emphasized that these AI factories will serve as a comprehensive resource, consolidating “the ‘raw materials’ for AI: computing power, data, algorithms, and talent.” This one-stop-shop approach aims to support and nurture Europe’s AI startups by providing essential components crucial for their growth and development.
Supercomputing Collaboration and Supply Assurance
The EU executive had previously collaborated with the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) in November to grant access to the EU’s supercomputing resources for AI startups and SMEs. Today’s announcement builds upon this collaboration, amending EuroHPC JU rules. It was noted in a briefing that demand for these computers is rising, with approximately six startups actively using them. To address potential chip shortages, the commission has secured commitments from US chipmaker Nvidia and implemented mitigation measures to ensure a continuous supply.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Brookings Institution
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