Global AI Policy Outlook 2024

The Global AI Regulation Landscape in 2024

By 2024, AI technology has advanced rapidly and become deeply integrated into business, government, and daily life. However, concerns over data privacy, algorithmic bias, autonomous weapons, and AI safety have also grown. In response, many countries have implemented new laws and policies aimed at regulating AI development and deployment.

Key developments include:

European Union AI regulatory framework

The European Union has implemented a comprehensive AI regulatory framework spanning ethics, safety, and standardization. Core pillars include risk-based requirements for trustworthy AI and restrictions on certain “high-risk” use cases like social scoring and mass surveillance. Compliance is overseen by a new European AI Board.

United States AI regulations

The United States has taken a more sectoral approach, with tailored AI regulations introduced in areas like self-driving vehicles, healthcare technologies, and financial services. However, Congressional efforts to pass overarching federal AI legislation have stalled due to disputes over issues like liability and privacy. New federal guidelines promote AI safety and transparency, but compliance is voluntary. Individual states like California and New York have been more proactive in passing AI accountability laws. Overall regulation remains decentralized and flexible.

China AI regulations

China has published national standards around data governance, transparency and ethics for AI systems. Compliance remains voluntary but could become mandatory for technologies used in sensitive domains. The Ministry of Science and Technology has emerged as the key regulator supervising areas like facial recognition. The latest Five Year Plan calls for greater assessability and accountability as China seeks to become an AI powerhouse by 2030.

Indian National AI Policy Framework

India has adopted a light-touch, innovation-friendly approach. The National AI Policy Framework stresses voluntary accountability around issues like bias and safety. But there are calls for stronger protections around automation and data collection.

The world’s major technology companies have ramped up self-governance efforts around trustworthy AI development and deployment, signing on to various national and international best practices. But some argue self-regulation remains insufficient.

The global regulatory landscape remains fragmented. Initiatives like the OECD AI Policy Observatory provide forums for major economies to collaborate on AI governance. But regional differences of approach look set to persist into the late 2020s absent major technological or geopolitical shifts.

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