A group of Europe's top CEOs, including those from ASML, Philips, Siemens, and Mistral, are urging the European Commission to delay the implementation of the EU's AI Act by two years. The CEOs argue that the current timeline is too tight and that a pause would allow for reasonable implementation by companies and further simplification of the rules.
The AI Act, which regulates artificial intelligence systems based on the risk they pose to society, entered into force in August 2024 but will fully apply in 2027. However, the CEOs are concerned that the regulatory uncertainty and complexity of the rules may deter companies from deploying AI systems and put European businesses at a disadvantage compared to their US and Chinese counterparts.
The CEOs' call for a delay is supported by some politicians, including Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the AI Act on innovation and competitiveness. The European Commission has not yet commented on whether it will postpone the enforcement of the new rules, but EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen has promised to publish the AI Code of Practice before next month.
The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of AI development in Europe and the competitiveness of European businesses in the global market.
