The landmark EU AI Act has come one step closer to being put into law after two groups at the European Parliament ratified a provisional agreement.

The EU AI Act, proposed last year, is the first formal legislation for the use of the emerging technology. It aims to introduce new rules which set the guardrails for AI use across all industries, and will also regulate foundation models like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s newly rebranded Gemini.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) posted: “AI Act takes a step forward: MEPs in @EP_Justice & @EP_SingleMarket have endorsed the provisional agreement on an Artificial Intelligence Act that ensures safety and complies with fundamental rights.”

The act had already received backing from EU countries, with France and Germany both securing concessions.

The new rules still face concern from Big Tech decision makers who have criticised it for its potential to stifle innovation and for its general wording of some of the requirements.

The EU AI Act will face a vote by the legislative assembly in April which, if ratified, will see it implemented as the world’s first AI legislation.

---