Europe’s AI Act Adopted: What U.S. Governments Can Learn

Remarks made by OTI Senior Policy Analyst David Morar and OTI Policy Director Prem Trivedi during OTI’s February 27 event, “The EU AI Act: Lessons for U.S. Policymakers,” are quoted in a Government Technology article about the EU AI Act’s adoption.

New America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, held a panel discussion in February, “EU AI Act: Lessons for U.S. Policymakers,” during which several experts discussed the EU’s approach to AI governance.

Open Technology Institute (OTI) Policy Director Prem M. Trivedi said during the panel that the EU AI Act is expected to have a global impact.

“So, policymakers in the United States need to examine not just the act’s texts and requirements, but are also going to be thinking through how American and other national efforts around the world can further the goal of broad global regulatory harmonization amongst like-minded nations,” Trivedi said.

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David Morar, OTI senior policy analyst, said during the panel that defining international standards is an area in which U.S. and EU leaders can collaborate.

Morar said the EU AI Act will become the floor for U.S. regulations, because while the U.S. may make changes, companies will likely already be aiming to abide by the requirements of the EU AI Act — so regulatory conversations should start there. The primary benefit of this legislation, according to Morar, is that the U.S. and EU will now be speaking the same language on AI policy issues.

He recommended the U.S. move forward by first addressing privacy.

“In terms of lessons … the first thing that the U.S. can and should do is pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation,” Morar said.