Radar

EU AI Act: what falls due when

The AI Act does not have one date, it has nine. The Digital Omnibus, in force since July 2026, deferred both high-risk deadlines and left the rest of the calendar untouched. This page tracks the dates against the text published in the Official Journal.

Who is affected

Companies that build, resell or merely use AI systems with effect in the European Union, including those established outside it.

  1. Met

    Entry into force

    The regulation exists in law. None of its obligations apply yet.

  2. Met

    Prohibited practices and AI literacy

    Article 5: banned uses such as social scoring and untargeted scraping of facial images. Anyone operating AI systems now needs demonstrable AI literacy.

  3. Met

    General-purpose models, governance and penalties

    Obligations for GPAI providers, designation of national authorities, notified bodies and the penalty regime.

  4. Met

    Digital Omnibus on AI enters into force

    Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 defers both high-risk deadlines and keeps prohibitions, GPAI and transparency on their original schedule.

  5. Met

    General application and Article 50 transparency

    The remainder of the regulation starts to apply. Synthetic content must be disclosed, and anyone interacting with an AI system must be told so.

  6. Next2 months away

    End of the machine-readable marking grace period

    Generative AI systems already on the market before 2 August 2026 lose the four-month transition under Article 50(2).

  7. Ahead

    GPAI models placed on the market before 2 August 2025

    General-purpose models that predate the GPAI rules must be brought into compliance.

  8. Ahead

    High risk by intended use (Annex III)

    Article 6(2): biometrics, critical infrastructure, education, employment, credit and essential services. Requires risk management, data governance, technical documentation, human oversight and registration in the EU database.

    Deferred from August 2, 2026

  9. Ahead

    High risk embedded in a product (Annex I)

    Article 6(1): AI embedded in products already covered by EU sectoral legislation, such as medical devices, machinery and radio equipment.

    Deferred from August 2, 2027