đ¤ AI Policy this week #048. EUâs AI Continent Action Plan; UAE to use AI in writing laws.
A quick summary of news, reports and events discussing the present and future of AI and the governance framework around its development.
Baby steps in AI regulatory debates around the world, with some updates from the UAE and Uzbekistan. Implementation remains a challenge, as seen with the EU's AI Act and also in South Korea, where some lawmakers are proposing a delay. The EU Commission has finally launched its announced "Continent Action Plan", mobilising âŹ200 billion and aiming to become a leader in the sector.
1. News
Europe unveils plan to become âAI continentâ with simpler rules, more infrastructure.
The European Commission outlined the key action of its AI Continent Action Plan, which aims to narrow the widening technological gap with the United States and China in this critical domain. The centerpiece of the EUâs strategy involves developing a network of AI gigafactories - computing facilities equipped with approximately 100,000 advanced AI chips each, four times more than current AI factories. The EU has committed to mobilizing âŹ200 billion ($219 billion) in AI funding, including a âŹ20 billion fund dedicated to establishing up to five gigafactories.
UAE to use AI in drafting and amending laws
The United Arab Emirates has launched an initiative to draft and amend federal and local laws using artificial intelligence, aiming to accelerate legal reforms by up to 70%. The new AI-powered system, overseen by the Regulatory Intelligence Office, will analyze vast legal and governmental data, monitor the real-time impact of legislation, and propose timely updates to ensure laws remain effective and relevant. This move is part of the UAEâs broader strategy to position itself as a global leader in digital governance, leveraging AI to make its legislative process faster, more precise, and closely aligned with international best practices.
OpenAI updates safety rules amid AI race.
OpenAI has updated its Preparedness Framework, the internal system used to assess AI model safety and determine necessary safeguards during development. The company now says it may adjust its safety standards if a rival AI lab releases a âhigh-riskâ system without similar protections, a move that reflects growing competitive pressure in the AI industry. Instead of outright dismissing such flexibility, OpenAI insists that any changes would be made cautiously and with public transparency.
Meta to train its AI models on public data of European users.
Meta announced that itâs going to train its AI models on public content, such as posts and comments on Facebook and Instagram, in the EU after previously pausing its plans to do so in response to regulatory pressure due to data privacy concerns. Usersâ interactions with Meta AI will also be used to train its models. The announcement comes after a limited version of Meta AI launched in the EU last month, well after its debut in the U.S. and other global markets.
South Korean Lawmakers Push for Delay in AI Law Implementation.
Lawmakers in South Korea are advocating to postpone regulatory measures outlined in the country's proposed AI legislation, aiming to provide stakeholders more time to adapt to compliance requirements and address industry concerns. The move highlights ongoing debates about balancing innovation with oversight in AI governance.
Uzbek MPs Advocate Balanced AI Regulation, Emphasize Prevention Over Punishment.
Uzbek lawmakers are advancing AI legislation focused on curbing misuse while fostering innovation, proposing measures like mandatory labeling of AI-generated content and penalties including fines or up to 15-day detention for unauthorized personal data manipulation. Officials stress a "soft approach" to avoid stifling tech growth, with plans for public consultation before finalizing the bill.
US OSTP taps policy scholar Dean Ball as AI, emerging tech advisor.
Dean Ball, a policy scholar with a focus on the intersection of history, political theory, policy and technology, is joining the Trump administration as a senior policy advisor on artificial intelligence and emerging technology, he announced on the social media platform X. Ball said in his post of joining the Office of Science and Technology Policy: âIt is a thrill and honor to serve my country in this role and work alongside the tremendous team [OSTP Director Michael Kratsios] has built.â He comes to OSTP from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he has served as a research fellow for the past year.
Trump Administration Drafts AI Integration Plan for K-12 Schools.
The Trump administration is considering an executive order to embed artificial intelligence in K-12 education, directing federal agencies to develop AI-focused curricula and collaborate with private-sector partners on school programs. The draft, marked as "predecisional", remains subject to revisions or potential abandonment.
2. Reports, Briefs and Opinion Pieces:
âAntiqua et Nova: Note on the Relationship Between AI and Human Intelligenceâ, by the Vatican.
In the context of Pope Francis passing away, let me include the document issued earlier this year by the Vatican on the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. In the Note, âthe Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Culture and Education highlight the potential and the challenges of artificial intelligence in the areas of education, the economy, labour, health, human and international relations, and warâ.
âAI and platform regulation: Perspectives from key players in Latin Americaâ, by Civic Compass (in Spanish).
The report summarizes perspectives on AI in the region, based on interviews with 70 stakeholders in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. âThe findings show clear divergences between sectors, as well as a critical challenge: regulators often lack technical knowledge about the technologies they are trying to regulateâ.
âAI integration in financial services: a systematic review of trends and regulatory challengesâ, paper published in Nature.
âThis scientometric review examines the evolution of AI in finance from 1989 to 2024, analyzing its pivotal applications in credit scoring, fraud detection, digital insurance, robo-advisory services, and financial inclusion. The analysis reveals significant trends, particularly the growing adoption of machine learning, natural language processing, and blockchain technologies in reshaping financial operations and decision-making processesâ.
3. Events:
Is U.S. Policy Ready for Agentic AI? (Apr 17th, Virtual webinar).
Panel discussion by ITIF's Center for Data Innovation on what the rise of agentic AI means for innovation, competition, and policy, how prepared the United States is to keep pace, and what policy shifts might be needed to ensure consumers and businesses can successfully develop and deploy AI agents.Baby steps in AI regulatory debates around the world, with some updates from the UAE and Uzbekistan. Implementation remains a challenge, as seen with the EU's AI Act and also in South Korea, where some lawmakers are proposing a delay. The EU Commission has finally launched its announced "Continent Action Plan", mobilising âŹ200 billion and aiming to become a leader in the sector.
Unescoâs Caribbean AI Policy Roadmap Townhalls (Apr 16th, Kingston, Jamaica).
The first of a series of Unescoâs collaborative online discussions focused on shaping the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy and Ethics Roadmap for the Caribbean. âThese sessions will provide an interactive platform for stakeholders across industry, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue on AI governance, opportunities, and challenges in the regionâ.
Thanks for reading, please share any comments and see you (hopefully) next week.