Following Google’s intention to launch Bard in Europe this week, the Irish Data Protection Authority has balked and the launch has been delayed.

Google plans to launch its generative AI chatbot Bard in the EU this week, according to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) of Ireland. As the search giant has its largest European office in Ireland, it reports to this region.

DPC Commissioner Graham Doyle tells Politico that Google only “recently” informed authorities that it plans to launch Bard in the EU “this week”. As the search giant did not provide sufficient information to the regulator before the planned launch date, the launch of the project in Europe cannot take place.

“We asked Google a number of additional privacy questions. While we await their response, Bard will not be able to launch this week.” The DPC does not clarify what additional questions it asked Google.

It is currently unclear when Google Bard wants to start in Europe. Competitor OpenAI has offered ChatGPT as a competitor since late last year, and its latest technology, GPT-4, comes standard with Bing, Microsoft’s search engine.

With this approach, the DPC wants to take important steps in the learning process towards a general AI code of conduct in the EU. Today, of all days, the European AI law would be discussed in the European Commission in order to initiate the next steps. The AI ​​Act will work closely with the existing Digital Services Act.

Google has since responded that it is in talks with European experts and regulators. It is currently unclear when Bard will be available in Europe.