Tech industry groups ask for deadline extension for AI code of conduct

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A group of 11 tech industry associations has asked the European Commission to extend the deadline for submitting comments on the code of conduct on general artificial intelligence (GPAI) until September, according to a report on Thursday (August 8). letter.

The specification is key to implementing the EU’s landmark AI Act. Requirements for GPAI (including tools like ChatGPT) will apply from August 2025. Until a harmonized standard is finalized, companies can use the specification to demonstrate compliance.

Open multi-stakeholder consultations, Launched on July 30The 2016-2017 Code of Conduct was the primary way for companies not directly involved in drafting the Code to express their opinions. Their feedback will be used to develop a first draft of the Code, which will be presented at the September meeting and then revised and revised over the next few months.

The industry association said the six-week duration of the multi-stakeholder consultation, which took place in mid-summer, “constrained” their ability to “provide meaningful contributions” and therefore requested a two-week extension.

The 11 groups represent a wide range of companies from the EU and the US, from large tech firms to startups.

The committee is busy formulating various guidelines and codes of practice for the AI Act, which will come into full force two years after its enactment. Effective August 1.

The GPAI code of conduct has been a thorny issue because it will determine whether some of the most powerful AI models are compliant, and civil society is concerned that industry will be allowed to draft its own rules.

On July 30, the committee said civil society and academia will participate in “plenary sessions” and be consulted during the drafting of the guidelines. However, GPAI developers will be specifically invited to participate in “workshops” with those who actually draft the guidelines, as well as the chairs and vice chairs of the working groups.

Those who wish to participate directly in drafting the regulations have a tighter timeline for expressing interest, with a deadline of August 25.

Industry associations calling for an extension include: startup organization Allied for Startups, the American Chamber of Commerce in the European Union (AmCham EU), the European Internet Service Providers Association, and Italian IT association Anitec-Assinform.

Signatories include industry associations for big tech companies in France, Germany, Poland and Brussels, representing Google, Meta, Oracle, Amazon, Microsoft and Samsung, among others.

Specifically, those signatories include France’s Associação de Services das Internetos (ASIC), Germany’s Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft, Poland’s Związek Cyfrowa Polska, Brussels-based DOT Europe, and three technology advocacy groups headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Brussels: BSA Software Alliance, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, and the Information Technology Industry Council.