After extensive negotiations, the EU has reached a preliminary agreement on the AI Act, marking the world's first comprehensive, ethics-based regulation of artificial intelligence.
The agreement was finalised after intense lobbying from tech companies and civil society, underlining the global significance of the EU's regulatory approach to AI.
European Commissioner Thierry Breton hailed the AI Act as a launchpad for EU startups and researchers to lead in the global AI race.
The AI Act, first introduced in April 2021, categorises AI-powered products into risk levels and sets corresponding regulations, aiming to ensure AI development is human-centric and ethically responsible.