Artificial intelligence is certainly making the post office busier. After a recent string of open letters about runaway, unregulated, and apocalyptic AI, another arrived today at the EU’s doorstep.
But in this case, the signatories express the opposite concern. They don’t want more rules, they fear too many rules too soon.
Their target is the impending AI law. Billed as the world’s first comprehensive law on the technology, the new regulation tries to walk a fine line between ensuring safety and supporting innovation. A new letter signed by executives of Europe’s biggest companies warns that the balance of business is slipping.
In a letter to the European Parliament, the European Commission and Member States, it said: “The bill jeopardizes European competitiveness and technological sovereignty without effectively addressing the challenges we face now and in the future. It will happen,” he said.
“The state with the strongest model will have a decisive competitive advantage.
The signatories include leaders of technology companies such as Ubisoft, TomTom and Mistral AI, as well as major companies such as Heineken, Carrefour and Renault. They argue that the AI law will lead to companies leaving the EU, diverting cash from investors and hindering European development.
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One of their main concerns stems from recent rule changes. On June 14, the European Parliament added new requirements for generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, which could pose “disproportionate” compliance costs and liability risks, according to the signatories.
They warn that this will put Europe even further behind the US in AI development. The impact will extend from the economy to the culture, they continue, as large-scale language models are embedded in everything from search engines to digital assistants.
“The nation with the most powerful large-scale language model will have a decisive competitive advantage …Europe cannot sit on the sidelines,” the letter said.
Bend the AI rules
In addition to filing complaints, business leaders have proposed several solutions.
Their main proposal is to limit EU law to broad principles in a risk-based approach, which would be implemented by dedicated bodies and adaptable to new developments and risks. These processes should unfold in dialogue with the economy, they said.
The signatories also expressed support for several aspects of the AI law. Specifically, he supported mandatory safety testing of new systems, standard labeling of AI-generated content, and a duty of care in model development.
However, these proposals have not yet won the support of lawmakers. Dragos Tudrache, who co-led the drafting of the AI law, immediately rejected the letter.
“I’m sure they didn’t read the text carefully, but rather responded to the irritation of a few people with an interest in the issue,” he told Reuters.
The positive side for the author is that he still has time to write many letters. The AI law is not expected to come into force before 2026.
