Google is having productive early conversations with regulators in the European Union.
Those conversations cover the bloc’s groundbreaking artificial intelligence regulations and how Google and other companies can build AI safely and responsibly, Thomas Kurian, the head of the company’s cloud computing division, told CNBC exclusively from the company’s office in London.
‘Watermarking’ tools
Kurian said that Google is working on technologies to ensure that people can distinguish between human and AI generated content. The company unveiled a “watermarking” solution that labels AI-generated images at its I/O event last month.
It hints at how Google and other major tech companies are working on means of bringing private sector-driven oversight to AI ahead of formal regulations on the technology.
“We have said quite widely that we welcome regulation,” Kurian told CNBC.
“We do think these technologies are powerful enough, they need to be regulated in a responsible way, and we are working with governments in the European Union, United Kingdom and in many other countries to ensure they are adopted in the right way.”
Trained on copyright material
A key concern from EU policymakers and regulators further afield, though, is that generative AI models have lowered the barrier to mass production of content based on copyright-infringing material, and could harm artists and other creative professionals who rely on royalties to make money.
Earlier this month, members of the European Parliament approved legislation aimed at bringing oversight to AI deployment in the bloc. The law, known as the EU AI Act, includes provisions to ensure the training data for generative AI tools doesn’t violate copyright laws.
» Read More
