Stricter regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) have been in force in the EU since 2 February. The AI Act not only affects large tech companies, but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that use or develop AI.
Key points of the AI Act:
1. prohibition of certain AI practices:
- Manipulative AI systems
- Social scoring
- Emotion recognition in the workplace
2. AI competency requirements for employees:
Companies must ensure that their employees have ‘sufficient AI competence’ - however, the exact definition remains unclear.
Challenges for SMEs & recommended actions:
- Review AI systems: Companies should analyse whether their existing AI applications fall under the new bans.
- Train employees: Proactive training on AI basics can help to fulfil compliance requirements.
- Follow EU guidelines: As many details are still unclear, companies should keep a close eye on future guidelines.
- Seek legal advice to minimise risks.
Uncertainty remains - take action anyway
Many details of the AI Act are still unclear, in particular which authorities in Germany will check compliance. Critics criticise the hasty implementation. Nevertheless, companies should not ignore the regulations in order to avoid legal problems and benefit from clear AI standards in the long term.
Act now:
- Check AI systems for compliance
- Start employee training
- Keep an eye on new EU directives