Upcoming rules for developers and users of General Purpose Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) models, such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Midjourney, have been delayed by at least one month, according to a new timeline from the European Commission. The Code of Practice on General Purpose Artificial Intelligence (CoP), which aims to assist companies in complying with the EU’s AI Act, now won’t be released until May at the earliest.

The delay was granted because the experts drafting the code requested additional time to incorporate industry feedback and make the document legally robust. The Commission had tasked a group of independent experts from the EU, US, and Canada with leading the work on the code. The first session in September was attended by over 1,000 individuals helping develop the Code.

Originally, a third draft was expected by February 17 but could now be released in March, followed by more working group meetings, workshops, and plenary sessions before the final text is presented in May at the earliest.

The EU’s AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, outlines strict regulations for GPAI providers. Most provisions will become effective in August 2025, with full applicability by 2027.

The delay has been welcomed by some tech industry players, including the lobby group DOT Europe, which represents major companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and TikTok. However, concerns remain regarding the tight timeline and potential impacts on stakeholders’ ability to provide feedback.

Last month, a group of European rightsholder organizations raised concerns that the current draft of the CoP contradicts copyright law, urging an urgent review.

Source: Euronews – Drafting of AI Code of Practice Faces at Least One-Month Delay