The rise of general-purpose AI (GPAI) models marks a significant shift in the landscape of artificial intelligence. Unlike their predecessors, designed for narrow objectives, GPAI models boast a wide array of capabilities across various domains. These models are trained on extensive datasets to perform diverse tasks, ranging from language processing in chatbots to complex generative AI applications, without domain-specific tuning. Their adaptability makes them indispensable in multiple sectors.

However, the capacity and versatility of GPAI models introduce potential systemic risks that differ from those posed by other AI models as well as systems. The EU AI Act acknowledges this by imposing distinct obligations on GPAI providers. This blog post will discuss the Act's regulatory approach towards GPAI models and the potential implications for their providers.