What is the EU AI Act?
The world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, explained.
The EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) is the world's first comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence. It entered into force on August 1, 2024, and its obligations apply in stages through 2027.
The core idea: risk-based regulation
The Act doesn't regulate "AI" as one thing. It sorts AI systems into risk levels and attaches obligations proportional to the risk — from outright prohibition down to no obligations at all. See Understanding Risk Levels.
Who it applies to
- Providers — whoever develops an AI system or has it developed and places it on the EU market, regardless of where they're based. A US or UK company selling into the EU is covered.
- Deployers — organisations using AI systems in the course of business within the EU.
- Importers and distributors — with their own, lighter obligations.
If your software calls an AI model and serves EU users, you almost certainly have obligations under at least one of these roles.
What it demands (for high-risk systems)
Risk management, data governance, technical documentation (Annex IV), record keeping, transparency, human oversight, accuracy and robustness — plus registration in the EU database and conformity assessment before market entry.
Where to read the official text
The full regulation is on EUR-Lex. Guardia AI's tooling maps to specific articles, but the regulation itself is always the authority.