1. Introduction: Overview of the EU AI Act
EU AI Act represents the first comprehensive regulatory framework governing the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence systems. Adopted by the European Parliament and Council, the AI Act entered into force on August 1, 2024, establishing a phased implementation timeline that extends through August 2027, General-purpose AI model providers must comply with transparency and documentation requirements; AI Office and AI Board operational as of August 2025, August 26 Article 50 transparency obligations become legally binding (with an extension, AI Omnibus political agreement of 7 May 2026 grants a grace period until 2 December for systems already on the market). All transparency, disclosure, watermarking, and labelling obligations enforceable, Commission Guidelines were finalized July 20, 2026, and together with the Code of Practice, govern the disclosure requirements. Full application including high-risk system obligations
