Short answer
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation 2024/1689) is the law that regulates the development and use of AI systems in the EU according to their level of risk. It entered into force on 1 August 2024, and its requirements apply in stages: since 2 February 2025 unacceptable-risk AI practices are banned and companies must ensure their staff’s AI literacy.
The approach: the higher the risk, the stricter the rules
- Unacceptable risk — banned (for example, manipulating people or social scoring).
- High risk — strict requirements (for example, AI in recruitment, credit scoring, critical infrastructure).
- Limited risk — transparency requirements (for example, people must know they are talking to AI).
- Minimal risk — most everyday AI tools, no special requirements.
Key dates
- 1 August 2024 — the regulation entered into force.
- 2 February 2025 — the bans and the AI literacy obligation.
- 2 August 2025 — rules for general-purpose AI models.
- The following years — the remaining requirements in stages, especially for high-risk systems. Some deadlines are being adjusted, so check them in the current version of the regulation.
What it means for a typical business
If you use AI for e-mails, document processing or customer support, your systems are most likely minimal- or limited-risk systems. In practice this means:
- train the employees who work with AI;
- tell customers when they are talking to AI;
- if AI is used in decisions about people (hiring, credit), check whether it’s a high-risk case.
This is not legal advice — in complex cases, consult a lawyer.