The National Post reports in its Thursday edition that a voluntary code of conduct for artificial intelligence systems the Liberal government is developing would require Canadian companies behind generative AI to prevent malicious and harmful use. The Post's Anja Karadeglija writes that this means developers would have to take steps to prevent their systems from being used to impersonate real people, conduct cyberattacks, or give legal or medical advice. Innovation Canada is consulting with experts, civil society and industry this summer on a voluntary code of conduct for generative AI. It released a document for the code on Wednesday. The voluntary code would be in place before Bill C-27, privacy legislation with an AI component called the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, becomes law. Once that happens, the government "intends to prioritize the regulation of generative AI systems," Innovation Canada said. Experts have been calling for government regulation since the emergence of generative-AI systems like Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Bill C-27 will move forward in the legislative process in the fall, but critics have pointed out the bill predates generative AI and that means it could already be outdated.