The European Union has warned that the possibility of artificial intelligence moving beyond effective human control should be treated as a major security concern as the technology advances at unprecedented speed. Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said the AI safety challenge requires continuous attention from governments, technology companies and international regulators.

Speaking to Finnish broadcaster Yle on Tuesday, Virkkunen said the EU considers a loss of human control over advanced AI systems among the most serious potential security risks.

She argued that the rapid development of AI makes strong safeguards essential and said systems should operate within clearly defined security boundaries.

“Humans must retain ultimate control,” Virkkunen said, stressing that technological progress should not come at the expense of safety.

EU pushes continuous AI monitoring

Virkkunen pointed to the European Union’s AI Act as a key part of its approach to managing emerging risks.

The legislation requires providers of certain AI systems to assess risks and maintain safety measures. Virkkunen emphasised that monitoring should not end when an AI model is released to the public.

She said AI models must continue to be assessed and monitored after entering the market because their risks can evolve as systems become more capable and are used in new environments.

“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of it,” Virkkunen said, while acknowledging that the possibility of AI becoming difficult to control is a risk that policymakers must continue to consider.

Her comments reflect a growing international debate over how governments can encourage AI innovation while ensuring that increasingly sophisticated systems remain reliable, transparent and subject to human oversight.

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Rapid development creates new security questions

AI technology is developing quickly across areas ranging from business and scientific research to defence and public services.

As AI models become more capable, policymakers are increasingly examining questions surrounding autonomy, cybersecurity, misinformation, privacy and the potential consequences of systems behaving in unexpected ways.

Virkkunen said Europe must ensure that AI development takes place within appropriate security constraints rather than relying solely on voluntary safeguards.

The EU’s regulatory approach is intended to establish common standards for developers and providers while placing stronger obligations on systems considered to carry significant risks.

Europe seeks influence over global AI standards

The European Commission official also stressed the importance of international cooperation in managing AI risks.

She argued that the influence of European regulation extends beyond the bloc because companies and international technology players take EU requirements into consideration when developing and deploying AI systems.

“In this way, Europe is also helping to set the standards for AI,” Virkkunen said.

Her comments underline the EU’s broader ambition to shape global technology governance through regulation, particularly as countries compete to establish rules for increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems.

The challenge for policymakers will be to maintain effective safeguards without unnecessarily restricting innovation. For Virkkunen, however, ensuring that humans remain ultimately responsible for powerful AI systems is a central requirement as the technology continues to evolve.