The EU AI Act and the Forgotten Competence of the Future: Why Complex Systems Require Polymathic Thinking
The EU AI Act is often perceived primarily as a regulatory challenge, as another layer of compliance requirements, documentation obligations, and control mechanisms that organisations must integrate into their existing processes. This perspective, however, remains incomplete. The deeper significance of the EU AI Act lies not only in the requirements it imposes on AI systems, but in the structural…
There’s a conversation about artificial intelligence happening online right now that mostly consists of two extremes:
• “AI will save everything.”
• “AI must be destroyed.”
Neither of these positions is serious.
Artificial intelligence is not going to disappear. The technology is already integrated into search engines, medical research, logistics, language tools, accessibility software, scientific modelling, and countless other systems. Governments, universities, and private companies across the world are investing billions into its development.
Whether we like it or not, AI is here.
Which means the real question is not “Should AI exist?”
The real question is: How should it be governed?
If you believe AI poses risks — and it absolutely can — then the logical response is not harassment campaigns against random users, hobbyists, or writers. The logical response is regulation.
Good regulation can address real concerns:
• Transparency about training data
• Environmental reporting for large data centres
• Accountability when AI systems cause harm
• Protections for workers and creators
• Clear rules around deepfakes and misinformation
• Standards for safety testing before deployment
Some governments have already started moving in this direction. The EU AI Act, for example, is one of the first comprehensive regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence. Other countries and international bodies are now debating similar rules and standards.
These efforts may not be perfect, but they represent something important: policy instead of panic.
If you truly believe AI is dangerous, the productive response is to support organisations that advocate for responsible technology governance and digital rights. Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and similar organisations around the world are actively working on policy proposals, consultations, and legislative pressure.
Anger alone does not create safeguards.
Policy does.
Artificial intelligence should not exist in a regulatory vacuum. It should operate under transparent rules that protect people, creators, and society as a whole.
Whether someone is enthusiastic about AI, deeply skeptical of it, or strongly opposed to it, there should be at least one point of agreement:
Powerful technologies should not operate without rules.
AI is no exception.
Sources / Further Reading
European Commission — AI Act (official overview)
The EU AI Act is described as the first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence, using a risk-based approach to regulate AI systems.
European Commission — AI Act enters into force (2024)
Announcement of the law’s adoption and implementation timeline.
EU Artificial Intelligence Act (overview and legal text)
Independent resource summarizing the law and linking to the full regulation text.
European Parliament — What the EU AI Act does
Overview explaining how the law classifies AI systems by risk level and introduces safety requirements.
Electronic Frontier Foundation — Artificial Intelligence policy work
EFF’s work on civil liberties, accountability, and regulation of AI technologies.
OECD — AI Principles & AI Policy Observatory
The OECD AI Principles are international guidelines adopted by dozens of governments to promote trustworthy AI, emphasizing transparency, accountability, human rights, and safety.
OECD AI Policy Observatory
Tracks national AI strategies, regulations, and policy initiatives from governments around the world.
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
A global framework adopted by UNESCO member states outlining principles for responsible AI governance, including human oversight, fairness, transparency, and environmental responsibility.
Access Now — AI governance and human-rights approach to AI regulation
AI Now Institute — Research on AI accountability and governance
AI ethics as practical risk management — fairness, transparency, privacy, accountability, human control — and the concrete actions that turn principles into practice.
The five pillars of AI governance — accountability, transparency, fairness, security, and compliance — and how to build a framework that enables adoption.
