More than one hundred companies have signed the EU Pact for Artificial Intelligence, committing to voluntary obligations for the safe development of these new technologies. Among them are major tech firms like OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, while notable absences include Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp).

Among the signatories are not only large multinational technology and telecommunications companies but also European small and medium-sized enterprises from various sectors, including IT, telecommunications, healthcare, banking, automotive, and aerospace, according to a statement from the European Commission. The Pact remains open for any company wishing to co-sign it in full or only concerning the key actions.

The voluntary commitments serve a supportive role in implementing the legislation of the Artificial Intelligence Act (which came into effect on August 1, with full enforcement of its provisions gradually taking place over the next two years) and in the collaboration of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Office with industry, civil society, and the academic community. These commitments focus on three key actions.

First, companies must implement a governance strategy for Artificial Intelligence within the framework of adopting these technologies and work towards compliance with EU legislation.

Second, companies must identify and map AI systems that may fall under the high-risk category based on the legislation.

Third, companies commit to promoting knowledge and awareness among their staff regarding AI issues, aiming for the ethical and responsible development of new technologies.

Beyond the core commitments, more than half of the companies have also committed to a range of goals, such as ensuring human oversight in AI operations, mitigating risks, and transparently labeling certain types of AI-generated content, like deepfakes.

The Commission also notes that through the initiative to create AI Factories, announced on September 10, these will provide support and information to startups and industry, including access to data, specialized personnel, and computing power.

The aim will be to support the development of industrial and scientific applications of artificial intelligence in key European sectors such as healthcare, energy, automotive, transport, defense, and aerospace, robotics, clean and agricultural technology.

The AI Factories are one of the main actions of the Commission for AI presented last January, along with support measures through venture capital, the development of common European data spaces, the "GenAI4EU" initiative, and the Large AI Grand Challenge, which provides startups with, among other things, financial support and access to EU supercomputers. The Commission will also establish a European Research Council for AI to leverage data, as well as the "Apply AI Strategy" to enhance new industrial uses of AI.