The AI Act is the world's first comprehensive legal framework for AI.

Omissions

• The claim does not specify that the AI Act entered into force in August 2024, with phased compliance deadlines extending through 2027.
• Several jurisdictions (e.g. China) had sector-specific AI regulations before the EU AI Act, such as China's 2022 algorithmic recommendation rules and 2023 generative AI rules, but none constituted a comprehensive horizontal legal framework.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission – Shaping Europe's Digital FutureThe AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence) is the first-ever comprehensive legal framework on AI worldwide.
• AcademicCambridge Forum on AI Law and Governance (Cambridge University Press)At the time of writing, China has not established a more comprehensive legislative framework on AI. Policymakers have instead focused on administrative regulations targeting specific AI applications.
• AcademicActa Facultatis Iuridicae Universitatis Comenianae (Academic Journal)In 2023, China adopted a regulation on generative artificial intelligence, and in early 2024, the EU approved the first comprehensive act regulating artificial intelligence.