The European Artificial Intelligence Act – One Year Later

The European AI Act (Artificial Intelligence Act) was announced and prepared by the European Commission over several years, through extensive debates and consultations with experts from various fields. Although the Act was finally adopted in May and published in July 2024 (a brief digression here!), its implementation has been postponed in certain segments for a period ranging from 6 to 36 months. Given the rapid pace and unpredictability of technological change, I express a well-founded and justified concern that these provisions may no longer be adequate by the time they come into force. Therefore, it is of essential importance that, in parallel with legislation, we establish clear ethical guidelines and professional standards. Every new law that regulates relationships emerging from the use of new technologies tends to become outdated quickly, which requires constant revision — a continuous, repetitive process. Such a situation may lead to the adoption of regulations that, in order to remain current, may be overly general or vague, thereby reducing legal certainty and the trust of participants in legal relations. Regulating artificial intelligence in the field of law must adopt a humanistic and, to some extent, traditionalist approach, in order to prevent the dehumanization that rapid technological development can cause. The future legal framework should ensure that artificial intelligence operates in a safe, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner, free from embedded or inherited biases and without being misused as a tool for manipulation. Furthermore, the future of the legal profession should not be seen as a rivalry between humans and machines, but rather as a process of responsible and balanced collaboration — with the human maintaining the dominant role. Lawyers who responsibly use AI tools and who are able to critically assess the results generated by AI will be more competitive and successful, as this ability will represent one of the key professional skills in the legal field of the future.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Law, Legislation