Google will sign EU's AI Code of Practice

Google has announced that it will sign the European Union's new AI Code of Practice, which provides a framework for compliance with the EU's AI Act. The AI Act, passed in 2024, will take time to fully come into effect, and the Code of Practice is a voluntary measure to help companies meet the Act's obligations in the meantime. While Google has expressed some skepticism about the AI Act's impact on innovation in the EU, the company has decided to participate in the Code of Practice. In contrast, Meta has stated that it will not be signing the Code, with its chief global affairs officer calling it an "over-reach." The EU's AI Act is the first comprehensive regulatory approach to AI from a major governing body, while the United States is still in the early stages of determining its own approach. The implementation of the Act will be gradual, with rules governing general-purpose AI models coming into effect in August 2025, and full compliance required by August 2027.