BRUSSELS: Alphabet’s Google has confirmed it will sign the European Union’s code of practice on artificial intelligence, even as it raises concerns that the regulations could slow innovation. The announcement was made by Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs and chief legal officer, through a blog post on Wednesday.
The EU’s voluntary code of practice was created by 13 independent experts and is designed to help companies align with the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act. This new regulation mandates that AI developers provide content summaries of the data used to train general-purpose models and comply with European copyright laws.
Walker expressed hope that the code will support secure and high-quality AI access for both citizens and businesses across Europe. “We do so with the hope that this code, as applied, will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available,” he wrote.
However, he cautioned that the EU’s approach may inadvertently hinder the development of AI across the continent. “In particular, departures from EU copyright law, steps that slow approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could chill European model development and deployment, harming Europe’s competitiveness,” Walker stated.
Despite these reservations, Google’s decision to sign the code is seen as a proactive move to collaborate with regulators and shape the responsible use of artificial intelligence across the EU. The code is intended to bring clarity for tech firms navigating the AI Act, due to be enforced in 2026.
