Artificial Intelligence

26 Tech Firms Sign EU's Voluntary AI Code of Practice

Published AUG 4 2025

Story

Above: The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on June 5, 2025. Image credit: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Twenty-six technology companies, including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, OpenAI, and Mistral AI, have voluntarily signed the European Union's AI Code of Practice for General-Purpose AI models (GPAI), which took effect on Saturday.
EuroNews
Visionias
The voluntary code consists of three chapters covering transparency, copyright and safety and security requirements, designed to help companies comply with the EU AI Act's obligations for general-purpose AI models.
Silicon Republic
Visionias
Meta declined to sign the code, with Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan stating it introduces legal uncertainties and extends beyond the AI Act's scope, while xAI signed only the safety and security chapter.
INKL
EuroNews
Companies that sign and adhere to the code will benefit from reduced regulatory burden and increased legal certainty when transitioning to the binding EU AI Act requirements expected within the next two years.
European Commission
Visionias
The EU AI Act represents the world's first comprehensive artificial intelligence law, taking a risk-based approach with penalties for non-compliance reaching up to 3% of global turnover or 15 million euros for GPAI violations.
EuroNews
Visionias
EU member states were required to designate national oversight authorities by this past Saturday to monitor compliance with the AI Act and conduct market surveillance activities for businesses operating within their jurisdictions.
European Commission
EuroNews

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The EU's AI code represents necessary guardrails for responsible AI development. These voluntary guidelines provide much-needed transparency and copyright protections while giving companies legal certainty during the transition to binding regulations. Twenty-six major firms recognized the value of early compliance.

European Commission

Visionias

Narrative B

Europe's AI regulations threaten innovation and competitiveness in the global tech race. The rushed implementation timeline and legal uncertainties could stifle European AI development while imposing burdensome requirements that go beyond the original AI Act's scope.