European Union technology chief Henna Virkkunen has defended the bloc’s ability to manage the risks posed by highly capable and potentially “rogue” artificial-intelligence systems, arguing that the EU’s existing AI Act covers the full lifecycle of advanced models.
Concerns about whether AI systems could move beyond human control have grown following incidents involving OpenAI and Anthropic. According to Cointelegraph, Virkkunen said in a Reuters interview on Friday that the safety and security of powerful AI models had become a major international issue, but that Europe was “well equipped” to deal with it.
How the EU rules apply
The EU AI Act was adopted two years ago and is based on the level of risk associated with different uses of artificial intelligence. It is regarded as one of the world’s strictest regulatory frameworks for AI.
Virkkunen rejected criticism that the rules are already outdated. She said the legislation covers the entire lifecycle of AI models, from their development through their use, and that regulators are helping companies understand how to assess their systems.
The guidance is being developed with recommendations from 60 AI experts. The approach is intended to help authorities and companies evaluate the safety and security of increasingly capable models rather than treating all AI applications in the same way.
Commission seeks information from AI companies
The European Commission asked more than 30 unidentified AI companies in late August to provide information about their safety and security measures. Virkkunen said she is currently reviewing the responses.
The request gives regulators more detail on how companies are preparing for risks associated with advanced AI systems. It also provides a basis for assessing whether the protections used by developers align with the expectations set out under the EU’s regulatory framework.
The debate is taking place as AI developers continue to release more capable systems. A particular concern is the possibility that AI could help build improved versions of itself, a process described as recursive self-improvement.
Calls for a slower development pace
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has argued that AI development is advancing too quickly. In a blog post cited by Cointelegraph in September, he warned that unchecked progress could outrun society’s ability to understand and control AI systems.
That position highlights the difference between calls for a slower pace of development and the EU’s regulatory approach. Virkkunen’s comments indicate that the Commission believes the existing AI Act, supported by company information and expert guidance, can address the risks without requiring the framework to be replaced.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at 11:38-11:39 on October 11, 2026, showed mixed performance among the listed digital assets:
- Ethena (ENA) was $0.2218515716, up 0.83% over 24 hours but down 6.8% over seven days.
- Huma Finance (HUMA) was $0.0336442873, up 0.07% in 24 hours and down 4.38% over seven days.
- OpenLedger (OPEN) was $0.1097169345, down 0.35% in 24 hours and 9.53% over seven days.
- Ontology (ONT) was $0.0605685083, up 0.1% in 24 hours and 1.53% over seven days.
