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Google will be signing the European Union’s AI code of practice, it announced, three weeks after the code was published.
In a short blog post, Google and Alphabet Global Affairs President Kent Walker stated that signing the code will help promote users’ access to “first-rate” AI tools as they become available. “Prompt and widespread deployment is important,” he said.
“Europe stands to gain significantly, potentially boosting its economy by 8% (€1.4 trillion) annually by 2034.”
The code of practice is designed to help organisations implement processes and systems so they can meet the requirements under the AI Act. Walker, however, still has his doubts.
“We remain concerned that the AI Act and Code risk slowing Europe’s development and deployment of AI,” he noted.
“In particular, departures from EU copyright law, steps that slow approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could chill European model development and deployment, harming Europe’s competitiveness.”
The stance comes after Google, along with other tech giants such as Meta, urged regulators to postpone implementing the AI Act by two years due to uncertainty about the scope of the regulation.
Meta’s Global Affairs Chief Joel Kaplan had called the EU AI Act an overreach that would “stunt” industry growth.
“Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “This code introduces a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act.”
Similar sentiments have also come from a group of 45 European companies, including SAP, Airbus and Spotify. In an open letter, the EU AI Champions said the need to “clock-stop” the AI Act for two years will “allow both for reasonable implementation by companies, and for further simplification of the new rules”.
Despite raising concerns, Walker said Google is still committed to working with the EU’s AI office to ensure the code reflects the changing nature of the AI.
“We will be an active voice in supporting a pro-innovation approach that leads to future investment and innovation in Europe that benefits everyone,” he said.
