EU Commission still lacking lead scientific advisor on AI despite dozens of applications

The European Commission hasn't yet recovered a lead technological advisor for its AI Office contempt receiving “dozens of applications”, and nan rules connected General-Purpose AI (GPAI) kicking successful connected 2 August.

The recruitment process is still ongoing contempt nan occupation vacancy being opened betwixt November and December past year, a elder charismatic moving astatine nan AI Office told Euronews.

The adviser’s domiciled will beryllium to “ensure an precocious level of technological knowing connected General-Purpose AI (GPAI).”

“They will lead nan technological attack connected General-Purpose AI connected each aspects of nan activity of nan AI Office, ensuring technological rigor and integrity of AI initiatives,” nan advertisement said, adding that “they will peculiarly attraction connected nan testing and information of General-Purpose AI models, successful adjacent collaboration pinch nan ‘Safety Unit’ of nan AI Office.”

Code of Practice

The Commission’s activity connected nan GPAI – specified arsenic ample connection models for illustration ChatGPT – is besides still ongoing: nan 2 May deadline for publication of nan voluntary Code of Practice connected GPAI, which should thief providers of AI models comply pinch nan EU’s AI Act, was not met. 

The EU executive appointed thirteen experts past September, utilizing plenary sessions and workshops to let immoderate 1,000 participants to stock feedback. 

An charismatic told Euronews nan process is delayed because nan Commission “received a number of requests to time off nan consultations unfastened longer than primitively planned.”

The erstwhile texts were criticised by publishers astir nan interplay pinch copyright rules, and from US Big Tech companies astir “being restrictive” and burdensome to innovation.

Thomas Regnier, a Commission spokesperson connected integer matters, said astatine a property convention connected Friday that nan purpose is to people nan latest draught “before nan summer”. On 2 August, nan rules connected GP AI devices participate into force.  

The AI Act itself - which regulates AI devices according to nan consequence they airs to nine - entered into unit successful August past year. Its provisions use gradually, earlier nan Act will beryllium afloat applicable successful 2027.

EU national

The Commission said it would for illustration a candidate from a European state for nan lead technological advisor role.

In 2023, nan EU executive was criticised for appointing US nationalist Fiona Scott Morton arsenic main economist. This station would person fixed her a opportunity successful immoderate fines aliases sanctions imposed connected Big Tech firms, nan US integer giants, nether nan EU's integer markets rules.

The Commission said in consequence that EU rules let each institutions, nether definite conditions, to employment non-EU unit members based connected nan needs of nan service.

Scott Morton yet withdrew from her assignment aft a governmental backlash including disapproval from French President Emmanuel Macron astir nan prime of a non-EU campaigner for nan role.

The Commission’s AI Office is readying to turn to 140 afloat clip positions by nan extremity of this year: up from 100 currently.