Artificial intelligence is intended to support human beings in reaching decisions – or even to take these decisions out of their hands. An as-yet unresolved issue is in what cases, and subject to what criteria, it is permissible for decisions with a bearing upon safety to be taken automatically by methods of artificial intelligence, or under their influence.

On 21 April 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence. This proposal must now be examined and jointly adopted by the European Parliament and the Council – if necessary with changes to the content.

The Commission proposal also provides for the European regulations and directives on product safety to refer to this new legal act in future for the safety-relevant aspects of a product that are based on artificial intelligence methods. This approach is already included in a Commission proposal for a European Regulation on machinery products also published on 21 April 2021, which, following adoption by the EU Parliament and Council, is to replace the current Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

In accordance with the principles of the New Legislative Framework, standardization has an important role to play in both Commission proposals. KAN will therefore follow the legislative process from an OSH perspective.