What is the EU AI Act?

Start with the system

List where AI is developed, placed on the market, put into service or used. Document the intended purpose, users and context before making a risk assessment.

• Describe the system and intended purpose
• Identify who provides and who deploys it
• Check whether prohibited practices, high-risk rules or transparency duties may be relevant

A risk-based structure

The Act addresses prohibited practices, high-risk systems, certain transparency situations and general-purpose AI models. A minimal-risk application does not automatically face the same obligations as a high-risk system.

The rules apply in phases

AI literacy and initial prohibitions began applying in February 2025. General-purpose AI obligations followed in August 2025. Many other rules began in August 2026, with later dates for high-risk categories following the 2026 amendments.