• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, May 24, 2023

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai committed to an “AI Pact” in a meeting with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market.

The meeting with top European Union officials that took place on Wednesday involves creating a set of voluntary rules or standards while formal regulations for applying artificial intelligence (AI) are underway.

“Agreed with Google CEO @SundarPichai to work together with all major European and non-European #AI actors to already develop an “AI Pact” on a voluntary basis ahead of the legal deadline of the AI regulation,” Breton wrote in a tweet Wednesday.

The EU is trying to be “proactive” and work on an AI pact ahead of incoming EU legislation set to apply to AI, reports Reuters.

The AI Pact, in theory, would involve all major European and non-European companies developing AI tools, on a voluntary basis -- and do it ahead of the legal deadline of the pan-EU AI Act.

The only technology company that has been publicly named to the initiative is Google, according to reports.

Discussions also were centered on disinformation, including those related to AI. Breton also welcome Pichai’s commitment to step up the fight against disinformation ahead of elections in Europe.

“We expect technology in Europe to respect all of our rules, on data protection, online safety, and artificial intelligence. In Europe, it’s not pick and choose,” tweeted Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the EU. “I am pleased that @SundarPichai recognises this, and that he is committed to complying with all EU rules.”