AI incident causes $1bn damage before 2032
MetaculusMAY 2023
Letter Demands New EU AI Liability Rules After Directive Cut
Above: European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference, held with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, in Brussels, Belgium, on April 7, 2025. Image copyright: Dursun Aydemir/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Techno-skeptic narrative
This letter must be taken seriously. The AI Act's implementation is faltering and threatens total inefficacy, from Germany's coalition disputes and Big Tech lobbying to a weakened Code of Practice. Members of the European Parliament and subject matter experts warn that diluting rules risks democracy, human rights, and safety. AI-driven discrimination, election interference, and privacy violations are already evident in major AI models, and must be mitigated against now.
Techno-optimist narrative
The EC's decision to scrap the AILD was the right move. It adds redundant complexity to a robust legal landscape, including the new Product Liability Directive and AI Act. Its vague benefits also stifle innovation, raise costs, and undermine EU competitiveness. Existing frameworks and contractual practices are more than enough, aligning with the Draghi Report's call for regulatory simplification to boost AI development.