The European Union AI Act officially entered into force on Wednesday, establishing the world first binding legal framework for artificial intelligence after years of negotiations. The regulation classifies AI systems by risk levels from minimal to unacceptable and imposes graduated compliance obligations on developers and deployers. High-risk applications in critical infrastructure, education, employment, and law enforcement face strict transparency requirements, while social credit scoring and mass surveillance tools are outright banned.
European Commission President von der Leyen called the regulation a model for the world, demonstrating how to harness AI benefits while managing its risks responsibly. The law will be enforced by a newly established European AI Office with fines of up to 7% of global annual revenue for serious violations. Major US tech firms will need to comply for products sold in the EU. China responded by accelerating its own domestic AI governance legislation.
