UK seeks alignment with EU on AI policy framework and copyright issues

As part of a warmup of relations on science and technology, Jonathan Berry, the UK’s AI minister, used positive language on a visit to Brussels last week. However, the EU and the UK still have very different approaches to regulating the technology.

The UK government is committed to adopting a pro-innovation approach to artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and seeks to work closely on this matter with international partners, including the EU.
The UK’s approach to AI regulation is based on trust and transparency, with an emphasis on protecting citizens from AI-related bias and discrimination. The government has announced several initiatives to make the UK a leading place for AI innovation, including financial commitments to AI research and collaborations with other countries, such as a £9 million partnership with the US on responsible AI.
The UK and EU already have a mutual protection agreement for copyrighted works thanks to their participation in international treaties. The UK has amended its copyright laws post-Brexit to preserve the bulk of benefits and protections that were in force while it was an EU member state.

Why does it matter?

The UK government is adopting a cross-sector approach to AI regulation based on five core principles. The aim is to balance innovation and safety by applying the existing technology-neutral regulatory framework to AI. The government has also recognized that legislative action may be necessary in the future, especially for general-purpose AI systems. Last October, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak established the first AI Safety Institute ahead of the Global AI Safety Summit held in historic Bletchley Park, England.

John Berry, the UK’s AI minister, has offered to work with the EU on AI regulation and has indicated that the UK’s approach to copyright in AI will likely be comparable to that of the EU.
Despite taking a more hands-off approach to AI regulation, the UK is open to sharing information and learning from the EU as both regions map out AI’s potential threats. Berry has underscored the importance of rewarding creators for their work, even in the presence of AI, and has suggested that there is potential for shared learning and best practice exchange with the EU on these issues. The UK minister’s offer comes amidst global concerns that AI firms have been using copyrighted content without permission or compensation to train and develop their models, as highlighted by The New York Times’ recent lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft.

With an adaptive and pro-innovation stance, the UK offers cooperation to the EU on AI policy and copyright. The aim is to protect creators’ rights while fostering AI innovation and preserving the UK’s AI industry.