Foundation model
"Foundation model" is a term widely used in industry and literature, but it is not separately defined in the text of the AI Act. The Regulation's official concept instead is the "general-purpose AI model" (GPAI model), defined in Article 3(63). The two terms are largely used as synonyms in practice, but for legal citation purposes, GPAI model is the precise concept.
For legal precision, it is worth clarifying: the term „alapmodell” (foundation model) did appear in earlier drafts during the legislative process, but the final Regulation adopted the concept of „general-purpose AI model” as the binding point of reference. Anyone referring to a "foundation model" in a compliance document is therefore, in substance, referring to the GPAI model definition and the obligations under Articles 51–56 — a model trained on large amounts of data using self-supervision or similar methods at scale, displaying significant generality and capable of competently performing a wide range of distinct tasks and of being integrated into a variety of downstream systems. The distinction matters in practice because in regulatory or judicial proceedings, the precise legal terminology — general-purpose AI model — is what counts, not the colloquial term "foundation model."
In compliance documentation it is advisable to use the Regulation's precise terminology ("general-purpose AI model") rather than the colloquial term "foundation model" — this avoids misunderstandings that could arise in a regulatory proceeding.
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Start freeRelated terms
- General-purpose AI (GPAI)A general-purpose AI model (GPAI) is a model that displays significant generality, is capable of competently performing a wide range of distinct tasks, and can be integrated into a variety of downstream systems. The model itself is a component: it becomes an AI system once combined with a user interface. GPAI models are governed by Articles 51–56; systems built on top of them by Article 50.
- GPAI model with systemic riskA GPAI model with systemic risk is a general-purpose AI model that may have a significant impact on public health, safety, public security or fundamental rights, due to its scale. This is presumed where the cumulative computation used for its training exceeds 10^25 floating point operations; in that case the provider is subject to the four additional obligations of Article 55.
Related questions in the knowledge base (Hungarian)
- Mi számít általános célú AI-modellnek (GPAI), és mi a különbség modell és rendszer között?Általános célú AI-modell az, amely jelentős általánosságot mutat, sokféle különálló feladatot lát el kompetensen, és sokféle későbbi rendszerbe integrálható. Ezt a 3. cikk (63) bekezdése rögzíti. A modell önmagában komponens: felhasználói felülettel kiegészítve válik AI-rendszerré. A modellre az 51-56. cikk vonatkozik, a rendszerre az 50. cikk.
- Mit jelent a rendszerszintű kockázatú AI-modell, és mi a 10^25 FLOP küszöb?Az 51. cikk (2) bekezdése szerint rendszerszintű kockázatot kell vélelmezni, ha a modell tanítására fordított halmozott számításigény meghaladja a 10^25 FLOP-ot. A szolgáltatónak két héten belül értesítenie kell a Bizottságot, és teljesítenie az 55. cikk négy többletkötelezettségét. A vélelem megalapozott érveléssel megdönthető, a Bizottság viszont elutasíthatja.