How the EU AI Act shapes the future of Aerospace
Understanding the impact of the EU AI Act in Aerospace.
Last week, the European Council gave the green light to the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act).
What does it mean?
The AI Act has set a clear precedent for balancing innovation with the safeguarding of fundamental rights and democracy.
The European Union has identified the following requirements for trustworthy AI:
Human agency and oversight
Technical robustness and safety
Privacy and data governance
Transparency
Diversity, non-discrimination, and fairness
Societal and environmental well-being
Accountability
Within the context of this article, it is important to note:
As in aerospace, the EU AI Act follows a “risk-based approach”. The higher the risk, the more restrictive the rules.
In my article "Making a Positive Impact with Human-Centred AI (HCAI) in Aerospace", I highlighted the layers of AI governance, where government regulation sets the scene to build human-centred, reliable systems.
Hence, the EU AI Act represents a landmark regulatory framework aimed at ensuring the safe and ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence across Europe.
Given the increasing integration of AI technologies in various sectors, the aerospace industry is set to be significantly impacted by this legislation.
This article explores the key aspects of the EU AI Act and its implications for the aerospace sector, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges it presents.
I cover:
Scope and exemptions of the EU AI Act
Impact of the EU AI Act on the aerospace industry
Key provisions of the EU AI Act
Governance and oversight
Conclusions
Let’s dive in! 🤿
Scope and exemptions of the EU AI Act
The EU AI Act regulates AI systems in the EU, covering providers and deployers regardless of their location, as well as importers and distributors, product manufacturers, authorised representatives of non-EU providers, and individuals in the EU affected by AI systems.
Key exemptions include AI systems used exclusively for military, defence, or national security purposes, and those used in international cooperation by public authorities in third countries. AI systems solely for scientific research and development, as well as those for personal, non-professional use, are also exempt.
The regulation does not affect existing EU laws on data protection, intermediary services liability, consumer protection, product safety, or more favourable worker protection laws. Open-source AI systems are excluded unless they are classified as high-risk.
The EU AI Act aims to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI while promoting innovation and protecting fundamental rights within the Union.
Impact on the Aerospace Industry
The aerospace industry, which relies heavily on advanced technologies, will need to navigate the new compliance landscape set forth by the EU AI Act.
Compliance with the Act will require aerospace companies to implement robust risk management frameworks, conduct thorough assessments of AI systems, and ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.
In my article “Building Trustworthiness AI in Aerospace”, I introduced Block #1 AI trustworthiness analysis of the "EASA Concept Paper: guidance for Level 1 & 2 machine learning applications".
This block interfaces with the EC Ethical Guidelines and serves as the gateway for the other three building blocks.
As with the EU AI Act, the assessment considers:
The characterisation of the AI application
Safety
Security
Ethics
Like the EU AI Act, EASA adopts a risk-based approach, categorising AI applications into different risk levels and introduces the Concept of Proportionality as I covered in my article “Decoding Risk of AI Implementation in Aerospace”.
The approval of the EU AI Act sets the expectations for EASA’s involvement in aligning current AI goals with regulatory requirements.
Key provisions of the EU AI Act
The EU AI Act categorises AI systems into four risk levels:
Unacceptable Risk / Prohibited: AI systems that violate fundamental rights, such as manipulative behaviour or social scoring by governments.
High Risk / Strict Regulations: AI systems with significant impact on safety or rights, including critical infrastructure, education, employment, and law enforcement applications. They must meet strict requirements for data governance, transparency, robustness, and human oversight.
Limited Risk / Transparency Obligations: AI systems that interact with humans, like chatbots, must inform users they are interacting with an AI system.
Minimal or No Risk / Minimal Regulations: AI systems like spam filters or video games, which pose little to no risk, are subject to few regulations.
Governance and Oversight
To ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the EU AI Act, the legislation outlines the roles of various regulatory bodies.
National competent authorities will oversee compliance within member states, while the European Artificial Intelligence Board (EAIB) will provide guidance and coordination at the EU level.
Conclusions
The EU AI Act marks a significant step towards the responsible and ethical use of AI within the European Union.
For the aerospace industry, it presents both challenges and opportunities.
Industry regulators such as EASA will incorporate the built-in requirements of the EU AI Act into their Regulatory Roadmap and Acceptable Means of Compliance.
By understanding the Act's provisions and proactively working towards compliance, aerospace companies can not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance their innovation and competitiveness.
As the industry continues to evolve, staying informed and engaged with regulatory developments will be key for aerospace organisations eager to adopt AI.
This step is only the beginning, offering a blueprint for governance that aligns technology with humanity's best values.
This is all for today.
See you next week 👋
References
European Council. Artificial intelligence (AI) act: Council gives final green light to the first worldwide rules on AI. Retrieved May 2024, from https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/05/21/artificial-intelligence-ai-act-council-gives-final-green-light-to-the-first-worldwide-rules-on-ai/
EU Artificial Intelligence Act. The AI Act Explorer. Retrieved May 2024, from https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/ai-act-explorer/
Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter and related resources is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It reflects both researched facts and my personal views. It does not constitute professional advice. Any actions taken based on the content of this newsletter are at the reader's discretion.