The European Commission has announced the establishment of a new AI Office to oversee the deployment of general purpose models and the AI Act in the E.U. The office will consist of five units covering various areas, including regulation, innovation, and AI for Societal Good.
The purpose of general purpose models is to provide foundational AI solutions that can be utilized for a wide range of applications, some of which may not be initially known to developers. The AI Office will officially launch on June 16 and will be responsible for tasks such as developing codes of practice, advising on AI models created prior to the full implementation of the AI Act, and ensuring the integration of state-of-the-art models into real-world scenarios.
Established in January 2024, the AI Office aims to support European startups and SMEs in creating trustworthy AI solutions. It is housed within Directorate-General Connect, the department responsible for digital technologies. The office will employ over 140 staff members, including technology specialists, administrative assistants, lawyers, policy specialists, and economists, with leadership provided by the Head of AI Office and guidance from a Lead Scientific Adviser and an Adviser for International Affairs.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, expressed the importance of the AI Office in ensuring the proper implementation of the AI Act to serve human interests and uphold European values. The AI Office will play a key role in enforcing the AI Act, developing codes of practice, providing AI best practices, supporting innovative research, and fostering a strategic approach to AI in Europe.
The office is divided into five units: Regulation and Compliance, AI Safety, Excellence in AI and Robotics, AI for Societal Good, and AI Innovation and Policy Coordination. Each unit has specific responsibilities related to enforcement, safety, innovation, societal impact, and policy coordination.
The AI Act, approved in March, will be enforced gradually over the next 24 months, with fines imposed on companies that fail to comply with its regulations. The E.U. is also taking steps to ensure AI models comply with GDPR regulations to protect data accuracy and privacy.
Overall, the establishment of the AI Office signals the E.U.’s commitment to regulating AI while fostering innovation and societal benefit. The E.U. aims to strike a balance between regulation and progress to ensure that AI technologies serve humanity and adhere to European values.
