I have really seen a lot of reports, a lot of letters and a lot of things being said about the AI Law. I would like to make it as clear as possible that there will be no stopping, no extension time. There is no pause, said European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.
The spokesperson said that the European Commission is rejecting the wishes of 46 CEOs who have requested a two-year moratorium on the AI Act.
The call for a temporary stop comes from many European companies. In addition to technology companies such as ASML and Mistral, Airbus, Siemens Energy and the Carrefour supermarket chain also support the #stoptheclock campaign.
Smaller AI companies such as ElevenLabs and Cradle also supported the open letter. In addition, many global technology companies such as Meta, Alphabet... have also made similar requests.
CEOs warn about unclear, overlapping and increasingly complex EU regulations. Their focus is on the potential impact on Europe's competitiveness in the global AI race.
The AI Law will take effect in each stage. Specific provisions took effect in February 2025. The next step, related to obligations for general-purpose AI models, will take effect in August 2025. " And next year, we have commitments to the high-risk models that will take effect in August 2026," Regnier explained.
This step-by-step approach will give businesses enough time to adapt. However, some technology companies are concerned that the new rules will hinder innovation. They pointed out the complexity and ambiguity of some aspects of the law.
The final decision belongs to European institutions. Currently, the Committee is meeting the initial deadline, which means companies must prepare for upcoming obligations.
