AI Act: what’s the latest news?

The topics “Artificial Intelligence” and “Generative AI” continue to be the focus of many debates and attract the attention of experts.

We at the Pragma Etimos Team, working for years with new technologies, always stay up to date on all the regulatory news, especially in recent times when the legislative framework has become considerably complicated and enriched with information.

The Council of Ministers has finally given the go-ahead to the Artificial Intelligence law.

With this in mind, the decree does not overlap with the European Regulation on AI, approved on 13 March by the European Parliament, but accompanies the regulatory framework by harmonising those areas of domestic law, taking into account that the regulation is based on an architecture of risks associated with the use of new technologies.

It is interesting to highlight some aspects of particular importance.

Overview and promotion of AI

Italy will have its own law on Artificial Intelligence. For the moment, it is only a draft bill that our government has drawn up, even before the official release of the AI Act in the Official Journal of the European Union, and which identifies “regulatory criteria capable of rebalancing the relationship between the opportunities offered by new technologies and the risks related to their misuse, underuse or harmful use“.

The regulations apply to five areas: the national strategy, national authorities, promotion initiatives, copyright protection and criminal sanctions.

There is a delegation to the government to align national legislation with the EU Regulation in aspects such as the education of citizens on artificial intelligence (in all educational paths) and the training provided by professional associations for experts and operators in the sector.

At Pragma Etimos, we firmly believe that it is essential to have a system of rules and proper education to consciously use very powerful technological tools. Adhering to these codes of conduct is key to achieving benefits for the whole community.

In addition, the draft law on AI establishes that all systems and models must be developed and applied in compliance with the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by Italian and European law. These include the principles of: transparency, proportionality, security, economic valorisation of data, protection of privacy, confidentiality, robustness, accuracy, non-discrimination, gender equality and sustainability.

It is essential that AI respects the centrality of humans in every technological process, anticipating possible critical issues upstream and ensuring, at the same time, that its processes are understandable and explainable.

Why is it so important to regulate AI?

As experts in the field, we are often asked this question.

Regulating Artificial Intelligence is important for several reasons:

• Security: regulations can help ensure that systems are safe and reliable, reducing the risk of malfunctions or unexpected behavior that could cause damage.
• Privacy protection: laws can prevent the abusive use of AI that could violate people’s privacy, discriminate, or violate other human rights.
• Accountability and transparency: establishing clear regulations makes it easier to hold accountable for errors or damage caused by AI systems. Transparency in AI operations is essential to maintaining public trust.
• Incentivise responsible innovation: clear rules can stimulate innovation by providing a stable framework within which to operate. Companies can invest with greater confidence knowing that there are precise guidelines.
• Preparing for and adapting to the future: appropriate regulations can help companies better prepare for the future of AI, ensuring that the integration of these technologies is done responsibly and in a win-win manner.

At Pragma Etimos, we believe that regulating AI is key to maximizing the benefits of these technologies and minimizing the risks associated with their use, while ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.

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