EU Tech Chief Says AI Act Equips Europe to Handle Rogue AI Risks

European Union tech chief Henna Virkkunen has pushed back against criticism that the bloc's AI regulations are outdated, asserting that the EU's AI Act is well-equipped to address risks posed by rogue AI agents. Speaking to Reuters on Friday, Virkkunen pointed to recent safety concerns surrounding advanced models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic, emphasizing that Europe has the regulatory framework in place to respond.

"We see that the safety and security of very capable models is a very hot topic internationally and we in Europe are well equipped for that," Virkkunen said. The EU AI Act, adopted two years ago and considered among the world's strictest AI regulations, uses a risk-based classification system to govern AI development and deployment. Virkkunen noted that the legislation covers the full lifecycle of AI models, and that regulators are actively issuing guidance to companies, incorporating recommendations from a panel of 60 AI experts.

The European Commission requested safety and security documentation from more than 30 unnamed AI companies in late August, and Virkkunen confirmed she is currently reviewing the responses. These efforts come amid growing alarm from industry leaders about the pace of AI advancement. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned in a September 13 blog post that AI development is moving so quickly it may "outrun our ability to understand and control these systems," driven in part by recursive self-improvement, where AI systems build increasingly capable next-generation models.

Virkkunen's comments signal the bloc's intent to enforce existing rules rather than rewrite them, even as global calls for an AI slowdown grow louder. The EU's posture contrasts with broader industry debate over whether stronger intervention is needed to prevent advanced models from operating beyond human oversight, a concern that continues to shape regulatory discussions worldwide.