The upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) in the EU provides an important role to a new unit, the European Artificial Intelligence Office (AI Office) within the European Commission in the enforcement of the AI Act, especially regarding general-purpose AI systems and also in the implementation of the AI Act, also in cooperation with the governance bodies in Member States. The AI Office was established by the Commission in an implementing decision that became effective on February 21, 2024. 

1. Why is the AI Office necessary?

The AI Office is established within the European Commission as part of the administrative structure of the DG for Communication Networks, Content and Technology.

The establishment of the AI Office is necessary to

• foster an understanding of capabilities, trends and potential of AI technologies (also with a special attention to general purpose AI (GPAI) models and systems),
• develop expertise and capabilities at the EU level (including the interaction with the scientific community),
• contribute to the implementation and enforcement of the forthcoming AI Act, and
• contribute to the implementation of international rules and principles on AI (such as the G7 Code of Conduct and Guiding Principles for developers of advanced AI systems).

The AI Office shall cooperate on many levels to perform its tasks, including

• cooperation with stakeholders,
• cross-sectoral cooperations,
• inter-institutional cooperation and
• international cooperation.

The establishment of the AI Office should not affect the powers and competences of national competent authorities, and EU institutions in the supervision of AI systems.

2. What are the main tasks of the AI Office in line with the AI Act?

The main tasks of the AI Office include: 

• acting as the supervisory body regarding general-purpose AI (GPAI) models and systems: 
  
  1. developing tools, methodologies and benchmarks for evaluating capabilities of GPAI models,
  2. monitoring the implementation and application of rules on GPAI models and systems,
  3. monitoring the emergence of unforeseen risks stemming from GPAI models,
  4. investigating possible infringements of rules on GPAI models and systems. 
• supporting the implementation of rules on prohibited AI practices and high-risk AI systems in cooperation with other responsible bodies, 
• assisting the Commission in its various tasks concerning AI, 
• facilitating the uniform application of the AI Act,
• encouraging and facilitating the drawing up of codes of practices and codes of conducts at Union level, 
• contributing to the provision of technical support, advice and tools for the establishment and operation of AI regulatory sandboxes,
• conducting evaluations and reviews on and preparing reports related to the AI Act,
• providing the Secretariat for the European Artificial Intelligence Board.

Based on the Commission´s implementing decision on the establishment of the AI Office, the AI Office will also have some additional tasks, as follows: 

• contributing to the strategic, coherent and effective Union approach to international initiatives on AI, 
• contributing to fostering actions and policies in the Commission that reap the societal and economic benefits of AI, 
• supporting the accelerated development, roll-out and use of trustworthy AI systems and applications that bring societal and economic benefits and that contribute to the competitiveness and the economic growth of the Union,
• monitoring the evolution of AI markets and technologies.