As the EU approaches finalizing a new proposal on AI regulations in the coming days, Google's chief legal officer Kent Walker says that the EU needs to focus on authorizing the best regulations on AI, no the first. He claims that moving to swiftly to regulate AI technology will only dampen innovation and restrict the technology out of fear instead of purpose. 

As the December 6th deadline for a deal in the EU gets closer, Walker and large number of tech business leaders argue that “[tech] requires a balance between innovation and regulation. Not micromanaging progress, but holding actors responsible when they violate public trust.” In other words, adding more bureaucracy to AI will only slow down development when better, more comprehensive alternatives need to be considered. 

The argument comes after the EU drafted a proposal that would require more openness from tech businesses, requiring them to fill out model cards that would reveal how their AI algorithms function. The deal, which is meant to reduce harm, has caused backlash from business leaders who don’t believe that it is fair to require complete transparency of their products.