Google Embraces EU's AI Code of Practice

In a significant move, Alphabet Inc.'s Google has announced its decision to sign the European Union's General Purpose AI Code of Practice. This step is seen as a commitment to ensuring that citizens and businesses across Europe have access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available.

Economic Impact and Innovation

Google highlighted the potential economic benefits, estimating that the rapid and widespread deployment of AI tools could contribute €1.4 trillion annually to the European economy by 2034. However, the tech giant also expressed concerns that the AI Act and Code might hinder Europe's pace in AI development and deployment, though it acknowledged improvements in the code's final version to better support innovation.

Voluntary Compliance and Industry Response

The EU introduced the code on July 10, framing it as a voluntary mechanism to aid industry compliance with the AI Act's obligations. In a contrasting stance, Anthropic, an AI startup, has also pledged to sign the code, while Meta has opted out, showcasing the mixed reactions within the tech industry towards the EU's initiative.