As January came to an end, a parliamentary process began in the EU concerning the first regulatory framework proposal in history on artificial intelligence. The work gained momentum when further amendments were proposed, among other things to ease a range of provisions relating to high-risk AI system providers. Under the new regulations, the EU is to be the world leader in artificial intelligence.

On 25 January 2022, the European Parliamentary Committees on the Internal Market and Civil Liberties convened at a joint meeting in the European Parliament to exchange views on the Artificial Intelligence Act for the first time. This was an important date, as it was formally the start of work on the new legislation. The Artificial Intelligence Act is intended to create a uniform legal framework regulating the issues of designing, placing on the market, and use of AI systems in the EU. Thus the legislation being drawn up will make AI investment and innovation easier for businesses.

Work on the legislation gained momentum on 13 January, when France, holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU as of the beginning of the year, proposed another amendment. The main changes proposed include abolishing some requirements that could entail major outlays and costs for high-risk AI system providers. The rules that will be eased include in particular the requirement to implement a risk management system and dataset monitoring and quality requirements. In addition, for the first time, health, safety, and EU fundamental rights will be the main component of high-risk AI system risk assessment. The proposal will also ease requirements for providers that are SMEs or startups.

Importantly, AI solutions are playing an ever greater role in building the potential of national economies. Poland wishes to take advantage of this opportunity as well. In December 2021, Poland joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Poland’s admission follows more than two years of involvement in AI on international forums, such as work in an AIGO (OECD) expert group and the EC High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (HLEG).