EU Issues AI Law Guidelines: What Suppliers Need to Know
The European Commission has issued guidelines and a template to aid suppliers in fulfilling their obligations under the EU's AI law. The regulations, which came into effect on February 2, 2023, aim to enhance transparency, copyright protection, and responsible AI development.
The EU AI law has a phased implementation. Most norms will come into force on August 2, 2026. All suppliers of general-purpose AI models (GpAI) must provide technical documentation, implement a copyright policy, and publish a summary of the training content before market entry. Models already in circulation by August 2, 2025, have until August 2, 2027, to ensure compliance.
Suppliers of high-risk GpAI models face additional obligations. They must notify the European Commission, assess and mitigate risk, report incidents, and ensure cybersecurity. The GpAI Code of Conduct, developed by independent experts, serves as a voluntary tool for suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the AI law. The regulations on generative AI models will come into effect on August 2, 2025.
Companies using or developing general-purpose AI models in the EU are advised to join the GpAI Code by August 2, 2025. This proactive measure will provide reduced burdens and greater legal certainty, especially regarding transparency, copyright, and safety requirements related to GpAI systems under the EU AI Act.
