EU countries, lawmakers close to deal on AI rules, sources say

FILE PHOTO: AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU countries and lawmakers are close to clinching a provisional deal on rules governing the use of artificial intelligence and an announcement could come in the next hour, people with direct knowledge of the discussions said on Friday.

The two sides together with the European Commission, which proposed the rules two years ago, had been locked in negotiations since 0800 GMT, after having failed to find consensus during a nearly 24-hour debate the previous day.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee)