The European Union and the United States are expected to announce collaboration on AI during a meeting of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) on Friday, according to a senior commission official speaking to journalists on background.
Despite the dominance of U.S. giants like OpenAI in cutting-edge AI developments, there is a growing trend of cooperation between lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic. The TTC, established post-Trump, serves as a forum for discussions on transatlantic cooperation in trade and tech policy. Friday’s meeting, the sixth since its inception in 2021, marks the last before elections in both regions, potentially focusing lawmakers’ attention on maximizing collaboration opportunities.
The expected announcement at the TTC will likely center around the establishment of an AI Office and the U.S. AI Safety Institute. This collaboration aims to enhance regulatory oversight on AI by fostering dialogue between the EU and U.S. oversight bodies. Additionally, there will be a focus on standardization efforts to develop an AI roadmap, facilitating joint advancements in the field.
Another aspect of the EU-U.S. partnership will revolve around leveraging AI for public good, particularly in developing countries and the global south. This involves joint research initiatives with a focus on implementing AI technologies in areas like healthcare, agriculture, and energy.
The official noted a shared perspective on the potential benefits of AI technologies in developing regions. They emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration to maximize the positive impact of AI adoption.
The cooperation extends beyond AI, encompassing emerging technologies like electronic identity. The EU’s development of an e-ID proposal presents new business opportunities, garnering interest from the U.S.
Additionally, there is growing alignment between the EU and U.S. regarding platform power regulation. Commonalities between EU laws and recent antitrust cases in the U.S. indicate potential for mutual benefit in addressing regulatory challenges.
The U.S.-U.K. AI memorandum of understanding, signed earlier in the week, focuses on accelerating joint efforts on AI safety, including national security and societal concerns. The agreement emphasizes information-sharing and collaboration on AI safety testing and technical research.
While the EU leads in legislating on AI safety, cross-border collaboration is expected to increase, with the U.S. and U.K. also prioritizing AI safety initiatives.
