The European Union has introduced the groundbreaking AI Act, approved in May 2024, to regulate artificial intelligence across a wide range of industries. 

This is the first comprehensive legislation of its kind worldwide. It classifies AI systems into four risk categories—unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal—setting clear requirements for high-risk applications, such as healthcare and law enforcement. The Act also enforces transparency, monitoring, and conformity assessment for high-risk AI, while ensuring minimal-risk AI, like video games, can be freely used. As AI evolves, the Act adapts, ensuring technology remains trustworthy and aligns with human rights and safety.

The new rules:

• address risks specifically created by AI applications
• prohibit AI practices that pose unacceptable risks
• determine a list of high-risk applications
• set clear requirements for AI systems for high-risk applications
• define specific obligations deployers and providers of high-risk AI applications
• require a conformity assessment before a given AI system is put into service or placed on the market
• put enforcement in place after a given AI system is placed into the market
• establish a governance structure at European and national level

Given the rapid evolution of AI, the AI Act incorporates a future-ready approach, allowing regulations to adjust as technology advances. This ensures that AI systems remain reliable and safe, even after being deployed. Providers are required to implement ongoing quality assurance and risk management practices to uphold the integrity of AI applications over time, adapting to new developments while ensuring continuous compliance with ethical and safety standards. This approach maintains trust in AI while supporting innovation in a dynamic technological landscape. 

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