EU AI ACT
What is the EU AI Act?
The EU AI Act (European Union Artificial Intelligence Act) is the world’s first comprehensive legal framework regulating artificial intelligence. Introduced by the European Commission in April 2021 and formally adopted in 2024, the Act is designed to ensure AI systems developed or used in the EU are safe, transparent, ethical, and respect fundamental rights. It is particularly relevant to organizations that develop, deploy, or distribute AI systems across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education, law enforcement, and public services.
The regulation applies not only to EU-based companies but also to any organization globally that provides AI systems or services within the EU market. It aligns with existing European data protection laws like the GDPR and is part of the broader EU digital strategy.
The EU AI Act classifies AI systems into four risk categories:
- unacceptable,
- high,
- limited,
- and minimal
with obligations scaling according to the associated risk. High-risk AI systems, such as those used in biometric identification, critical infrastructure, employment, and law enforcement, are subject to strict compliance requirements.
The Act has gone through several iterations since its proposal, including amendments addressing foundation models (like generative AI), enhanced transparency for users, and clear accountability mechanisms. As of 2025, organizations have between 6 to 36 months to become compliant, depending on their system classification.
What are the requirements for the EU AI Act?
To comply with the EU AI Act, organizations must:
- Determine the AI risk classification of their systems.
- Conduct conformity assessments for high-risk AI systems before market entry.
- Implement a quality management system (QMS) for AI lifecycle governance.
- Ensure data governance and documentation, including data training, validation, and bias mitigation.
- Establish human oversight mechanisms to ensure AI does not operate autonomously in high-risk scenarios.
- Maintain transparency by informing users when they are interacting with AI (e.g., chatbots, deepfakes).
- Register high-risk AI systems in the EU database managed by the European Commission.
Compliance steps often require coordination with multiple functions, including legal, compliance, data science, and product development teams. The Act is designed to be technology-neutral but often references complementary standards such as ISO/IEC 42001 (AI Management Systems) and ISO/IEC 23894 (AI Risk Management).
The authoritative body overseeing enforcement is the European Artificial Intelligence Office, working in coordination with national supervisory authorities across EU member states.
Why should you be the EU AI Act compliant?
Complying with the EU AI Act isn’t just about avoiding penalties,it’s a competitive advantage.
Key benefits include:
- Market access to the EU’s 450+ million consumers.
- Improved trust and brand reputation among users, investors, and partners.
- Enhanced governance and ethical AI development, leading to better long-term product sustainability.
- Alignment with global trends in AI regulation, preparing your organization for other regional laws.
Non-compliance, especially for high-risk systems, carries serious consequences:
- Fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
- Product bans or mandatory recalls within the EU market.
- Reputational damage, reduced customer trust, and competitive disadvantage.
Early compliance allows organizations to mitigate legal risks, drive innovation responsibly, and future-proof their operations in an evolving regulatory landscape.
How to achieve compliance?
The Centraleyes risk and compliance platform is designed to guide organizations through EU AI Act compliance from start to finish. We help users identify their AI system’s risk category, complete the required assessments, and collect structured evidence through an intuitive, step-by-step process. The platform includes built-in support for technical documentation, a remediation center to manage gaps, analytics to track progress, and tools to generate declarations and prepare for registration. Whether your system is high-risk, limited-risk, or minimal-risk, we simplify compliance and give you the visibility and control you need to meet regulatory obligations with confidence.
Which EU AI Act Assessment Applies to You?
EU AI Act: What You Need to Know and Do
Step 1: What Is This About?
The EU AI Act is a new law that applies to companies and organizations that build or use AI systems in the European Union. If your AI system is available to users in the EU , or affects people in the EU , this law probably applies to you.
The requirements depend on what kind of AI system you have. There is an official tool called the EU AI Act Compliance Checker that you can use at: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/assessment/eu-ai-act-compliance-checker/
To make things simple, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you figure that out:
Step 2: Find the Right Questionnaire
Once you answer a few short questions, we’ll direct you to the right checklist. There are three possible categories:
1. High-Risk AI Systems (Aligned with Articles 9–15, 16–29, 61–63)
Choose this if your system is used in sensitive or regulated areas , like hiring, education, public services, or anything involving biometric identification (like face or voice recognition). Examples include:
- CV screening tools
- Automated grading systems
- Border control technologies
- Systems that affect access to jobs, loans, or housing
What you’ll need to do:
- Fill out the High-Risk compliance questionnaire
- Prepare technical documentation
- Sign a Declaration of Conformity
- Register your system with the EU
Note:
In addition to the required questionnaire for your risk category, we recommend also completing our Minimal Risk – Voluntary Best Practices assessment. While not mandatory under the EU AI Act, it helps you demonstrate responsible AI development, build user trust, and align with the Act’s ethical expectations — especially in areas like fairness, transparency, and user feedback. This is particularly valuable for high-risk systems looking to go beyond basic compliance.
2. Limited-Risk AI Systems
Choose this if your system:
- Interacts with people (like a chatbot or AI assistant)
- Detects emotions or physical traits (age, gender, etc.)
- Generates synthetic content (e.g., AI-generated video or voice)
What you’ll need to do:
- Answer the Limited-Risk assessment about transparency
- Make sure users know they’re interacting with AI
- Clearly label any synthetic content your system produces
Note:
In addition to the required questionnaire for your risk category, we recommend also completing our Minimal Risk – Voluntary Best Practices assessment. While not mandatory under the EU AI Act, it helps you demonstrate responsible AI development, build user trust, and align with the Act’s ethical expectations — especially in areas like fairness, transparency, and user feedback. This is particularly valuable for limited risk systems looking to go beyond basic compliance.
3. Minimal-Risk AI Systems
Choose this if your system doesn’t fit into the first two groups. These are everyday tools with low impact, like internal productivity software or AI-enhanced features in apps.
What you’ll need to do:
- Nothing is required by law
That said, we suggest completing the Minimal Risk – Voluntary Best Practices Checklist Assessment which is made up of some best practices like reviewing for bias, providing basic transparency, and offering a way for users to give feedback.
If you’re not sure which category your system falls into , or you need help working through any part of the process , we’re here to support you. Get in touch at Centraleyes.com for a free consultation and demo.
Read more: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/
The post EU AI ACT appeared first on Centraleyes.
*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Centraleyes authored by Deborah Erlanger. Read the original post at: https://www.centraleyes.com/eu-ai-act/
