• ‘This is a way to differentiate AI developed in the EU from that developed in the US and China,’ says University of West Attica academic Adonis Bogris
• ‘The EU aims to reduce dependence on non-EU big tech companies, ensuring that AI is substantially developed within the EU and complies with EU values and regulations,’ says Bogris

ATHENS

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act is part of the bloc’s efforts to reduce its dependence on non-European big tech companies and counterbalance the dominance of the US and China in AI development, according to an expert.

Reflecting on the factors that led to the EU adopting the act in May last year, Adonis Bogris, a professor of informatics and computer engineering at Greece’s University of West Attica, described it as the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence.

“From a political standpoint, the EU aims to build on its success with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2016, which became a global benchmark for data privacy,” he told Anadolu in an interview.

“Similarly, the EU seeks to establish an ambitious global standard for AI regulation.”

Another significant motivation, Bogris explained, is the EU’s objective to be independent of non-European big tech companies and raise its own standing to a point where it could challenge the US and China.

“With digital sovereignty a key issue, the EU aims to reduce dependence on non-EU big tech companies, ensuring that AI is substantially developed within the EU and complies with EU values and regulations,” he said.

“This is a way to differentiate AI developed in the EU from that developed in the US and China. In this respect, the AI Act also aims to create a fair and competitive AI market, preventing monopolistic practices by big tech companies.”  

Regulation and oversight to address ethical concerns

Beyond strategic and economic considerations, the AI Act was driven by ethical concerns over the growing prevalence of high-risk AI applications, said Bogris.

He pointed to instances where AI systems have demonstrated biases, particularly in sensitive areas such as healthcare, financial services, and law enforcement, underscoring the necessity for fairness, transparency, and human oversight.

“The AI Act seeks to build trust in AI systems while addressing these concerns,” he said.

“Finally, the EU aims to protect individuals from AI-driven scams, fraud, and manipulative algorithms that exploit personal data.”

The new regulations introduce stringent requirements, including mandatory risk assessments, transparency obligations, and human oversight for companies developing AI technologies.

These measures are expected to increase compliance costs for businesses, but they also promise significant benefits for users.

Users will have a clearer understanding of how AI systems work, particularly in high-risk sectors such as healthcare, finance, and hiring, and ensure AI systems meet safety and ethical standards to reduce the risks of bias, fraud, and discrimination, he said.

Regarding what additional steps should be taken to regulate AI, Bogris pointed out the lack of clearly defined monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

It is crucial, he said, to accelerate the establishment of these mechanisms and involve multiple stakeholders in shaping them.

“For instance, the EU must continue to engage with organizations like European Digital Rights (EDRi) and Access Now, which raised concerns about the potential consequences of the AI Act, particularly around surveillance, privacy, algorithmic bias, and data protection,” he said.

The aim should be to try to “incorporate many of their suggestions into newer and updated versions of the act,” Bogris stressed.  

AI’s impact on employment and environment

Bogris also highlighted concerns over AI’s potential to replace human workers and cause widespread job losses, particularly among lower-skilled employees.

To address this issue, trade unions should play a more active role in refining the AI Act to ensure workers’ rights, fairness, and safety in an increasingly AI-driven workplace, he suggested.

Another critical area that the act does not fully address, according to Bogris, is AI’s environmental impact.

“The expansion of data centers across the EU increases the energy needs dramatically, and AI will further accelerate this trend. Hence, the proposition of eco-friendly AI technologies is imperative,” he said.  

EU’s AI strategy amid US pressure

Regarding challenges the EU might face in maintaining its AI regulatory framework under the Trump administration, which has strong ties to major tech corporations, Bogris acknowledged internal divisions within the EU.

There are influential forces within the EU, particularly in the European Commission, that argue Europe’s interests should remain aligned with the geopolitical strategy of the US, he explained.

“In my opinion, the EU must develop its own strategic plan for digital development, with AI serving as one of the key levers for sovereignty and leadership along with key enabling technologies such as photonics, and microelectronics,” he said.

“This plan should represent a paradigm shift, focusing on how AI and digital transformation can be fair, inclusive, transparent, and a means of reducing inequalities while fostering progress for European societies.”