After the Council's final green light on 21 May 2024, the pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, establishing the first comprehensive global regulatory framework for AI, was published in the EU’s Official Journal on 12 July 2024 (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). The AI Act prohibits certain AI practices and sets forth regulations pertaining to "high-risk" AI systems, AI systems that pose transparency risks, and general-purpose AI (GPAI) models. For the agreement between the EP and Council → eucrim 4/2023, 316-317.

The regulations set forth in the AI Act will be implemented in stages. The regulations pertaining to prohibited practices will take effect in February 2025, while those concerning obligations on GPAI models will become applicable in August 2025. Finally, the regulations pertaining to transparency obligations and those concerning high-risk AI systems will come into effect in August 2026.

It should be noted, however, that exceptions have been made for high-risk AI systems and GPAI models that have already been placed on the market. With regard to high-risk AI systems that will have been placed on the market or put into service in the EU prior to August 2026, the AI Act will only apply in the event of "significant changes" to their design after that date. Similarly, with respect to GPAI models that will have been placed on the market in the EU prior to August 2025, the AI Act's rules will not apply to them until August 2027.

The AI act is designed to be key for the EU’s policy to foster the development and uptake across the single market of safe and lawful AI that, at the same time, respects fundamental rights.