Government proposes establishing AI regulatory sandbox

“Artificial intelligence (AI) improves efficiency, accelerates scientific discovery and creates new business opportunities. AI is advancing rapidly, making it essential to consider the risks associated with its use and ensure that it delivers value safely in the future. Regulatory sandboxes enable companies to verify that their AI systems comply with regulatory requirements before bringing them to market,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto. Within the sandbox, businesses and other actors can develop and test AI systems under the supervision of the authorities, even before the systems are placed on the market. This helps participants identify regulatory requirements and potential challenges at an early stage. Testing takes place for a limited period and in accordance with a pre-agreed plan. High-risk AI systems can also be tested in real-world conditions, either within or outside the regulatory sandbox, provided that certain conditions are met. The real-world testing outside a regulatory sandbox requires authorisation from the competent market surveillance authority and needs to consider the rights of affected individuals. The proposal also includes provisions on an...