The AI Act lays down harmonised rules on AI to foster the development, use and uptake of AI in the internal market.
It ensures a high level of protection of public interests such as health and safety and the protection of fundamental rights, including democracy, the rule of law and environmental protection.
Its rules are related to the placing on the market, the putting into service and the use of certain AI systems, thus ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market and allowing those systems to benefit from the principle of free movement of goods and services. Those rules protect fundamental rights and are supportive of new innovative solutions.
Their purpose is to enable a European ecosystem of public and private actors creating AI systems in line with Union values.
Based on the elements outlined above, the primary objectives of the AI Act are:
- Harmonisation and legal certainty: ensure clear and harmonised rules for the development and use of AI across the EU in order to create a predictable and trusted environment for companies and users;
- Foster innovation: encouraging the development and application of AI technologies in a way to benefit society and the economy;
- Ensure safety and fundamental rights: ensuring health, safety and fundamental rights of individuals by regulating AI systems based on their risk levels.