Regulating general purpose AI : a legal analysis of the EU artificial intelligence act

Abstract

This dissertation presents a comprehensive legal analysis of the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) with a focus on the regulation of General Purpose AI (GPAI). GPAI, due to its versatility and widespread applicability across various sectors, poses unique challenges for regulation. The EU AI Act seeks to address these challenges by introducing a tiered regulatory framework that balances the need for innovation with the imperative to protect fundamental rights and ensure transparency, accountability, and safety. The analysis explores key aspects of the Act, including transparency requirements, risk management, data governance, and the handling of biases. It also examines the Act's provisions for the regulation of AI systems with a high-impact capability, particularly those exceeding significant computational thresholds, and the implications for both developers and users. Through a detailed examination of the legal, ethical, and practical considerations, this dissertation assesses the effectiveness of the AI Act in creating a regulatory environment that fosters responsible AI development while mitigating risks associated with GPAI. The study highlights the importance of striking a balance between regulation and innovation, the challenges in enforcing compliance, and the need for a dynamic regulatory approach that can adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on AI regulation by offering insights into how the EU AI Act addresses the complexities of GPAI and proposing avenues for future legal and policy development in this area.