EU AI Act Update: Provisional Deal Would Delay High-Risk AI Rules

EU negotiators have reached a provisional political agreement on changes that, if formally adopted by the EU, would simplify the AI Act and make it easier for businesses to comply. The AI Act is the EU’s new law regulating the development and use of AI.

What has happened?

The EU institutions have agreed a political deal on a package of AI Act amendments known as the Digital Omnibus on AI, part of the EU’s broader “Omnibus VII” simplification package. The aim is to reduce complexity, avoid some overlapping regulation, and give companies more time to comply while detailed standards and guidance are finalised.

The main practical point is that, under the provisional agreement, the compliance date for many “high-risk” AI systems would move from 2 August 2026 to 2 December 2027. For high-risk AI systems used as safety components in regulated products, the proposed application date would move to 2 August 2028.