EU AI Act Enforcement Era Begins: What the First Deadlines Mean for Business
The EU AI Act's obligations for general-purpose AI models are now in force, and enforcement machinery is spinning up. Even non-EU companies selling into Europe are in scope.
The European Union's AI Act has moved from legislation to enforcement. Obligations for general-purpose AI models are now in effect, and the EU's AI Office is building out the machinery to police them.
What's actually in force
Providers of general-purpose models must now meet transparency and documentation requirements, with stricter rules for the most powerful systems. Bans on prohibited practices — like social scoring and manipulative techniques — have applied since earlier phases. The next wave of obligations, covering high-risk AI systems used in areas like hiring and credit, arrives in stages through 2027.
Why non-EU companies should care
Like GDPR before it, the AI Act follows the market, not the map. If your AI product touches EU customers or users, you're in scope. Fines can reach 7% of global turnover for the most serious violations.
What to do this week
Inventory where AI shows up in your business — including third-party tools with AI features you may not think of as "AI systems." Ask vendors for their compliance documentation. Companies that can show a clean AI inventory will move through customer and regulator questions far faster than those scrambling to build one.