Around 700 companies have expressed interest in joining the AI Pact, a preparatory initiative aimed at helping businesses prepare for the upcoming AI Act, according to a European Commission spokesperson speaking to Euronews.
This figure has grown from 550 since the initial call for interest last November.
The AI Pact is designed to allow businesses to get a head start on the AI Act through voluntary commitments and collaborative workshops organized by the EU executive’s AI Office.
The AI Act, the world’s first legal framework for regulating AI models based on their risk levels, officially came into effect on 1 August. Some provisions of the AI Act will be applicable shortly after the regulation’s adoption: general-purpose AI rules will take effect one year after its entry into force, and the requirements for high-risk systems will be implemented in three years.
“We eagerly anticipate September when the formal coordination process is set to launch, ensuring comprehensive information on the Pact is available,” Quattrocchi added. He highlighted that the AI Pact will be “a valuable tool in guiding companies to better understand their responsibilities and obligations under the AI Act.”
Jean-Marc Leclerc, head of EU policy at IBM, stated that the AI Pact’s objective of encouraging companies to begin preparing for future compliance with the AI Act is “a good idea considering future compliance efforts.”
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