The Act sets out to ensure organisations and developers are utilising and deploying their AI systems safely and ethically. It adopts a risk-based approach to AI regulation, the greater the potential risk to users, the greater the compliance obligations.

Under the Act, generative AI models are an example of general-purpose AI (GPAI). These providers must comply with the Copyright Directive and publish a summary of the content used for training. Companies must also label AI-generated content. Companies that will be under this provision include the likes of OpenAI (the owners of ChatGPT) and Microsoft’s Copilot.

The PPA is pleased to see generative AI being addressed and regulated, and has been involved in numerous lobbying efforts to bring this issue to the attention of the right stakeholders in the UK.

With the proximity of a general election, it is unlikely that any AI-related legislation will be proposed at this stage. But given the current Government has expressed a commitment to innovation rather than legislation, there may be a rush to follow in the footsteps of our European counterparts.

In relation to Rishi Sunak’s comment on not rushing to regulate AI, Peter Kyle MP, Shadow Secretary of Science, Innovation and Technology said: “to secure these benefits [of AI] we must get on top of the risks and build public trust. It is not good enough for our ‘inaction man’, Prime Minister, to say he will not rush to take action, having told the public that there are national security risks which could end our way of life.”

If you would like to read the full act, see here. For an interactive version, see here.

The PPA will monitor the situation and keep members updated. If you’d like to discuss this further, please speak to our Public Affairs team at Eilidh.wilson@ppa.co.uk or natasha.anku@ppa.co.uk.