Tech News Summary:
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned that his company’s ChatGPT could leave the EU if it was over-regulated during a recent tour of Europe.
- EU lawmakers responsible for shaping the legislation disputed Altman’s claim that the current draft of the EU AI Law would be over-regulating and suggested inviting him to Parliament to express his concerns and hear their views on the issues.
- EU lawmakers have added new proposals to the bloc’s AI Law requiring any company using generative tools like ChatGPT to disclose any copyrighted material used to train their systems.
OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, has caused a stir in the European Union after threatening to pull the plug on the company’s EU operations if the region does not loosen its regulatory grip.
Altman’s controversial comments came amid concerns that the EU’s privacy and data protection rules are impeding innovation and hindering business growth. In an interview with the Financial Times, Altman said that the EU’s “overbearing” regulations could force OpenAI to move its operations to other parts of the world.
The remarks have sparked outcry from EU lawmakers, who say that Altman’s threat is not only unhelpful but also disrespectful. Members of the European Parliament have accused Altman of putting business interests ahead of public safety and have demanded an apology.
“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and threatens the integrity of the EU’s regulatory framework,” said Ana Gomes, a Portuguese member of the European Parliament. “We cannot let companies dictate our laws and regulations.”
Altman, for his part, has defended his comments, saying that he is not against regulation as such but rather against “excessive” regulation that stifles innovation. He added that he was open to working with EU officials to find a solution that balances innovation with consumer protection.
Despite Altman’s conciliatory tone, the controversy shows no signs of abating anytime soon. EU officials are already discussing ways to tighten regulations on tech companies, and Altman’s threat is likely to escalate tensions further.
For now, it remains to be seen whether OpenAI will follow through on its threat to scale back its EU operations. The company, which is backed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk among others, is a major player in the field of artificial intelligence and has been praised for its groundbreaking work. But if EU regulations continue to pose a barrier to growth, there is a real risk that OpenAI and other tech firms will look to other parts of the world to realise their ambitions.