1 00:00:00,050 --> 00:00:03,740 Lesson overview of the UI act and its risk categories. 2 00:00:03,770 --> 00:00:09,950 The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for 3 00:00:09,950 --> 00:00:14,840 AI technologies, focusing on risk management and regulatory oversight. 4 00:00:15,950 --> 00:00:21,680 The act categorizes AI systems based on the level of risk they pose to users and society, aiming to 5 00:00:21,710 --> 00:00:24,890 balance innovation with the protection of fundamental rights. 6 00:00:25,580 --> 00:00:31,400 This lesson delves into the EU AI act structure, its risk categories and their implications for AI 7 00:00:31,430 --> 00:00:32,270 governance. 8 00:00:32,990 --> 00:00:39,830 The EU AI act, proposed by the European Commission in April 2021, represents a landmark regulatory 9 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:44,810 effort to address the ethical and safety concerns associated with AI technologies. 10 00:00:45,530 --> 00:00:50,960 Unlike previous guidelines, the act introduces legally binding rules that apply to various stakeholders, 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,550 including developers, deployers and users of AI systems within the EU. 12 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,560 One of the Act's core principles is the classification of AI systems into risk categories. 13 00:01:01,770 --> 00:01:03,120 Unacceptable risk. 14 00:01:03,150 --> 00:01:03,990 High risk. 15 00:01:03,990 --> 00:01:06,000 Limited risk and minimal risk. 16 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,100 This tiered approach is designed to ensure that regulatory measures are proportional to the potential 17 00:01:11,130 --> 00:01:13,710 harm posed by different AI applications. 18 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:22,470 AI systems categorized under unacceptable risk are deemed to pose a severe threat to the safety, livelihoods, 19 00:01:22,470 --> 00:01:24,150 and rights of individuals. 20 00:01:24,930 --> 00:01:28,530 These systems are prohibited outright under the EU AI act. 21 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:35,010 Examples include AI systems that deploy subliminal techniques to manipulate behavior or exploit vulnerabilities 22 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:39,180 of specific groups, such as children or persons with disabilities. 23 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:44,970 Another instance of unacceptable risk is the use of AI for social scoring by governments, a practice 24 00:01:44,970 --> 00:01:50,910 that can lead to unfair discrimination and societal division by outright banning these applications. 25 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:57,360 The EU aims to prevent the misuse of AI in ways that could undermine social cohesion and human dignity. 26 00:01:59,130 --> 00:02:04,870 High risk AI systems, on the other hand, are subject to stringent regulatory requirements before they 27 00:02:04,870 --> 00:02:05,950 can be deployed. 28 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:11,740 These systems are considered critical due to their potential impact on essential public interests such 29 00:02:11,740 --> 00:02:14,620 as health, safety, and fundamental rights. 30 00:02:14,980 --> 00:02:21,610 The UI act outlines several domains where high risk AI applications are prevalent, including biometric 31 00:02:21,610 --> 00:02:27,730 identification, critical infrastructure, education, employment, essential public services, and 32 00:02:27,730 --> 00:02:28,840 law enforcement. 33 00:02:29,140 --> 00:02:35,320 For instance, AI systems used in hiring processes can significantly influence individuals career prospects, 34 00:02:35,350 --> 00:02:39,370 necessitating robust safeguards to prevent biases and ensure fairness. 35 00:02:40,030 --> 00:02:46,270 To mitigate these risks, the act mandates rigorous ex-ante conformity assessments, transparency measures, 36 00:02:46,270 --> 00:02:49,840 and continuous monitoring of high risk AI systems. 37 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:57,160 Limited risk AI systems are those that present a moderate level of risk, but do not warrant the extensive 38 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,440 regulatory scrutiny applied to high risk systems. 39 00:03:01,010 --> 00:03:07,790 These AI applications are subject to specific transparency obligations to inform users about their interaction 40 00:03:07,790 --> 00:03:08,690 with AI. 41 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:14,720 For example, chatbot systems must disclose to users that they are interacting with an AI and not a 42 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:15,500 human being. 43 00:03:15,530 --> 00:03:21,830 This transparency is crucial for maintaining trust in AI technologies and enabling users to make informed 44 00:03:21,830 --> 00:03:22,640 decisions. 45 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,850 Although the requirements for limited risk AI systems are less stringent, they still play a vital role 46 00:03:28,850 --> 00:03:31,820 in fostering accountability and user awareness. 47 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:34,250 Minimal risk. 48 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:40,250 AI systems, which encompass the majority of AI applications, pose the least threat to users and are 49 00:03:40,250 --> 00:03:42,950 subject to minimal regulatory intervention. 50 00:03:43,580 --> 00:03:49,820 These systems include AI functionalities embedded in everyday applications such as spam filters, product 51 00:03:49,820 --> 00:03:52,790 recommendations, and customer service automation. 52 00:03:53,210 --> 00:03:59,120 While these systems are generally considered benign, the UI act encourages voluntary adherence to codes 53 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,310 of conduct and best practices to promote responsible AI development. 54 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:09,460 This approach aims to foster a culture of ethical AI use without imposing heavy regulatory burdens on 55 00:04:09,460 --> 00:04:10,900 low risk innovations. 56 00:04:12,490 --> 00:04:18,910 The EU AI act also introduces several cross-cutting requirements applicable to all AI systems, regardless 57 00:04:18,910 --> 00:04:20,260 of their risk category. 58 00:04:20,620 --> 00:04:26,080 These include obligations for data governance, record keeping, transparency, human oversight, and 59 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:27,160 robustness. 60 00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:32,680 For example, AI developers must ensure the quality and representativeness of training data to prevent 61 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,550 biased outcomes, which is a common concern in AI ethics. 62 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:43,120 Additionally, the act emphasizes the importance of human oversight to prevent overreliance on automated 63 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,610 decisions and to maintain accountability. 64 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:52,750 These overarching requirements reflect the EU's commitment to creating a robust and ethical AI ecosystem. 65 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:59,390 The implementation of the EU AI act is expected to have significant implications for AI governance, 66 00:04:59,390 --> 00:05:01,640 both within the EU and globally. 67 00:05:02,210 --> 00:05:08,090 By setting a high standard for AI regulation, the EU aims to position itself as a leader in ethical 68 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:09,290 AI development. 69 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:15,170 The Act's risk based approach provides a flexible yet comprehensive framework that can adapt to the 70 00:05:15,170 --> 00:05:17,690 evolving landscape of AI technologies. 71 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Furthermore, the act's extraterritorial scope means that non-EU entities offering AI systems within 72 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:30,470 the EU must also comply with its requirements, thereby extending its influence beyond European borders. 73 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:37,640 Critically, the EU AI act addresses the growing public concern over the ethical implications of AI, 74 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:44,300 with numerous instances of AI related controversies such as biased algorithms and criminal justice and 75 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:46,460 discriminatory practices in hiring. 76 00:05:46,490 --> 00:05:53,690 The need for robust regulation has become increasingly apparent by categorizing AI systems based on 77 00:05:53,690 --> 00:05:56,510 risk and implementing targeted regulatory measures. 78 00:05:56,540 --> 00:06:01,590 The act seeks to prevent these issues and foster public trust in AI technologies. 79 00:06:01,590 --> 00:06:07,230 Moreover, the Act's focus on transparency and accountability aligns with broader global efforts to 80 00:06:07,230 --> 00:06:09,270 promote ethical AI practices. 81 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:17,010 In conclusion, the UI act represents a significant milestone in the regulation of AI technologies. 82 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:23,940 Its risk based approach categorizes AI systems into unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal risk 83 00:06:23,940 --> 00:06:27,810 categories, each with corresponding regulatory requirements. 84 00:06:28,110 --> 00:06:33,750 This structure ensures that regulatory measures are proportional to the potential harm posed by different 85 00:06:33,780 --> 00:06:38,610 AI applications, balancing innovation with the protection of fundamental rights. 86 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:44,550 The Act's comprehensive framework, cross-cutting requirements, and extraterritorial scope underscore 87 00:06:44,550 --> 00:06:47,850 the EU's commitment to ethical AI development and governance. 88 00:06:48,330 --> 00:06:55,110 As AI continues to evolve, the EU AI act will play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI regulation, 89 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:58,350 setting a benchmark for other jurisdictions to follow.