What this guide covers
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) is the world's first comprehensive AI law, and it applies to any company — inside or outside the EU — whose AI systems are used in the European market.
Instead of reading 180+ recitals and 113 articles, ask a question below. Every answer is generated only from the official legal text, with citations back to the source.
Key dates (updated for the June 2026 Digital Omnibus)
- Feb 2, 2025 — Prohibited AI practices and AI-literacy duties already in force
- Aug 2, 2025 — General-purpose AI (GPAI) model obligations in force
- Aug 2, 2026 — Article 50 transparency duties apply: chatbot disclosure, AI-generated-content marking, deepfake labeling — not delayed
- Dec 2, 2027 — High-risk obligations (Annex III: employment, education, biometrics, critical infrastructure…) — postponed by the Omnibus
- Aug 2, 2028 — High-risk AI embedded in regulated products
Questions people ask
- Does the AI Act apply to my company if we're based outside the EU?
- Is my HR screening tool a "high-risk AI system"?
- What do I have to disclose when users talk to our chatbot?
- What are the maximum fines, and who enforces them?
This guide is an AI research tool over the official text, not legal advice.
This guide is an AI research tool over published source documents. Answers are generated from those documents and cited, but this is not legal or professional advice.