The European Union has just released its first legal framework for Artificial Intelligence. It covers a wide range of areas, including:
▪︎ Defining the fundamental notion of an AI system.
▪︎ Laying down the requirements for high risk AI systems, and obligations of their operators.
▪︎ Prohibiting certain AI practices, e.g., attempts to distort human behavior; real-time remote biometric identification of natural persons in publicly accessible spaces; social scoring of natural persons; etc.

This follows the US Federal Trade Commission’s recent efforts on addressing unfair or deceptive practices in AI, including preventing the sale or use of racially-biased algorithms. These frameworks are important not just to ensure that the power of AI is used for public good, but also to combat wrongful claims made by some companies about the AI that they build. While many of the finer points still need to be worked out (including balancing legality with innovation & technological progress), these are good starts.

Hopefully, the legal provisions will provide ample scope for technological innovations, and the enforcement of the clauses will be rigorous as well.