European Small Businesses Voice Concerns Over Proposed Amendments to AI Legislation

French, German, and Italian authorities prefer that major technology corporations undertake self-regulation of their artificial intelligence (AI) foundational models. However, there is growing concern among smaller businesses that such a move could unfairly distribute the burden of compliance.

As the EU's proposed AI Act undergoes further development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe are voicing concerns about potentially increased barriers to entry within the burgeoning AI sector.

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At the heart of the debate is the framework for regulating foundation models, which are extensive machine-learning systems like those driving OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard.

European Countries Propose Self-Regulation Strategy

With the skies of innovation seemingly clouded, France, Germany, and Italy have been the leading voices calling for regulation through voluntary company pledges. This initiative was highlighted in a mutual document disclosed by Politico, igniting a keen debate over the balance between innovation and regulation in the AI landscape.

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SMEs Tackle Compliance Responsibilities

The voice of over 45,000 small and medium businesses, the European Digital SME Alliance, asserts that self-regulation would inadvertently place the onus of adherence onto lesser business entities, such as SMEs, rather than the titans behind these systems.

The Alliance passionately advocates for entities offering significant foundation models to engage in independent conformity verifications. Their stance is clear—an efficient regulatory environment is essential to alleviate excessive compliance expenditures and subsequently lower market entry thresholds for SMEs.

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This outlook is further reinforced in their public statement, suggesting a more measured and less burdensome approach for emerging AI developers.

Spotlight on Innovation and Market Fairness

"Limiting duties for sizable foundation models could corner SMEs into either non-compliance with the AI Act or a stiff barricade to ingenuity," the Alliance remarked. "Definitive and rigorous obligations must be instituted to rectify market disparities and ensure a breeder ground for forward-thinking enterprises."

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Amnesty International has also weighed in, emphasizing the pivotal role the AI Act plays not just in safeguarding human rights, but as a potential global standard-bearer for AI governance. Their commentary highlighted the perils of capitulating to Big Tech's lobbying, which could undermine the EU's stride towards meaningful AI regulation.

"The EU must not falter at this final hurdle and EU member states, such as France, Germany and Italy, must not undermine the AI Act by bowing to the tech industry’s claims that adoption of the AI Act will lead to heavy-handed regulation that would curb innovation," expressed Amnesty International's secretary general, Agnes Callamard.