EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act)
What is the EU AI Act?
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act is the world’s first comprehensive legal framework regulating the development, deployment, and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Its purpose is to ensure that AI systems placed on the EU market are safe, trustworthy, and respectful of fundamental rights.
The Act was adopted by the European Parliament on 13 March 2024 and will officially enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, with a gradual implementation period until 2026.
📄 Legal Basis:
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union legislative acts.
🔗 Official text (Final compromise – English, EUR-Lex)
Who does it apply to?
The AI Act applies to:
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AI developers and providers based in or offering services to the EU
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Deployers and users of AI systems in both private and public sectors
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Importers and distributors of AI-based solutions
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Organizations using AI to make decisions that affect EU citizens
Risk-based classification and obligations
The Act introduces a four-level risk-based approach:
| Risk Level | Examples | Regulatory Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited | Social scoring, subliminal manipulation | Completely banned |
| High-risk | AI in healthcare, recruitment, education, justice | Mandatory CE conformity assessment |
| Limited risk | Chatbots, deepfakes | Transparency obligations |
| Minimal risk | Spam filters, AI in video games | Unregulated use allowed |
High-risk systems must comply with strict obligations such as:
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Risk management and mitigation
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Logging and traceability
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Technical documentation and transparency
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Human oversight
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Registration in the EU AI Database
Implementation Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Transition period begins |
| 2025 | Rules apply to prohibited practices and foundation models |
| 2026 | Full enforcement for high-risk AI systems |
How we support you
KX Consulting Engineers offers full support for:
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Risk classification of AI systems under the EU AI Act
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Gap analysis and implementation roadmaps
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Documentation & compliance support
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Training of staff and responsible persons
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Integration with ISO frameworks (e.g. ISO/IEC 42001, ISO 27001)
📩 Contact us to assess the AI Act readiness of your organization or AI products.