Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Vice-President responsible for preparing “Europe for the Digital Age”, said today that the EU is likely to reach a political agreement this year, paving the way for the first substantive agreement on world class for artificial intelligence (AI).

The development will follow a preliminary agreement reached on Thursday on EU artificial intelligence legislation.

In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of a G7 digital ministers’ conference in the Japanese city of Takasaki, Vestager proposed legislative measures for the use of all AI tools, such as “recording obligations for all images that are produced through artificial intelligence”.

“There is no reason to delay while waiting for the legislation to be passed, in terms of accelerating the necessary discussions to define the changes in all systems that will be heavily influenced by AI,” she added, when asked about the steps needed before the achievement of the implementation of any agreement.

The G7 group of economically advanced countries should adopt a regulation on artificial intelligence “based on the potential risks”, as the ministers of the member states responsible for digital technologies agreed today.

For their part, European lawmakers are rushing to introduce AI legislation to regulate emerging AI tools like ChatGPT.

However, such legislation should “maintain an open and functioning environment” for the development of artificial intelligence technologies, but also be based on democratic values,” G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day conference in Japan.

The ministers acknowledged, however, that “policy tools to achieve a common vision and goal for reliable AI applications are likely to differ between G7 member countries.”

On the other hand, the agreement is a reference point for how economically developed countries will manage artificial intelligence based on concerns for the preservation of personal data, but also for security.

“Pausing (AI development) is not the right response. Innovation must continue to develop within certain limits that democracies must establish,” French Digital Transition Minister Jean-Noel Barot told Reuters, adding that France would institute some exemptions for small companies developing artificial intelligence under the forthcoming European legislation.

In addition to concerns about the potential for copyright theft, the G7 member countries recognized the security risks. “The reproduction of AI…, produces fake news and solutions that cause disruption to society, in the event that the database is false,” Japan’s Digital Technology Minister Taro Kono said during a press conference after the agreement was reached.

Japan will host a G7 summit at the end of May, during which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss AI rules with other leaders.