Germany to approve EU’s planned AI act

Volker Wissing, the Digital Minister of Germany, has announced that Germany has reached a compromise to approve the AI Act introduced by the European Union (EU).

Wissing, from the pro-business Free Democrats party, known for their staunch support of safeguarding civil liberties, emphasised that artificial intelligence is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the future.

“The wrangling over the German position on the AI Act came to an end today with an acceptable compromise,” he added.

The European Union reached a provisional deal in December for AI rules to establish a regulatory framework, but it must be approved by members and the European Parliament.

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Wissing highlighted his efforts to advocate for rules that foster innovation and create a more favorable environment for small and medium-sized businesses. While he did not provide specific details, he expressed that these efforts have resulted in tangible improvements and helped alleviate disproportionate requirements for such businesses.

“The negotiated compromise lays the foundations for the development of trustworthy AI,” he said.

Earlier reports suggested that the junior partners of Social Democrat Olaf Scholz’s three-way coalition with the Greens, the FDP, had withdrawn their objections to the proposal.