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EU’s AI office to employ more than 140

The office that will oversee the implementation of landmark EU legislation on artificial intelligence (AI) will employ more than 140 staff when it begins work on 16 June.

The European Commission today (29 May) gave details of the organisation of the AI office, which will be set up within the commission.

The EU body says that, as well as playing a key role in implementing the AI Act, the new office will also work to foster research and innovation in trustworthy AI.

Sanctions

The office will include a unit focusing on regulation and compliance, which will contribute to investigations and impose sanctions for breaches of the act.

A safety division will aim to identify systemic risks in AI models, as well as possible mitigation measures.

Other divisions will be responsible for research, international engagement, and the EU’s broader AI strategy.

The office will support governance bodies in member states, but will also directly enforce the rules for general-purpose AI models.

Guidelines

The commission says that the first meeting of the AI board should take place by the end of June.

The AI office is preparing guidelines on the definition of AI systems and on the prohibitions, both due six months after the entry into force of the AI Act.

The office is also getting ready to co-ordinate the drawing up of codes of practice for the obligations for general-purpose AI models, due nine months after the act comes into force.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that the office would help to ensure “a coherent implementation” of the AI Act.

“Together with developers and a scientific community, the office will evaluate and test general-purpose AI to ensure that AI serves us as humans and uphold our European values,” she concluded.