EU to proceed with AI act implementation despite objections from tech firms

The European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to its AI Act timeline, rejecting calls from major technology companies to delay the implementation of its landmark artificial intelligence legislation, Reuters reported on Friday.

Over a hundred tech firms, including Alphabet, Meta, Mistral AI, and ASML, have reportedly urged the European Commission to postpone the rollout of the regulation. They argue that the new rules could hinder Europe’s competitiveness in the global AI sector, which is rapidly evolving.

Responding to the pressure, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said in the report, “I’ve seen, indeed, a lot of reporting, a lot of letters and a lot of things being said on the AI Act. Let me be as clear as possible, there is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause.”

The AI Act introduces a risk-based framework to regulate AI systems, with applications classified under various levels of risk. Certain “unacceptable risk” use cases, such as cognitive behavioral manipulation or social scoring, are banned outright. Other applications, including those involving biometric surveillance, education, and employment, are considered “high risk” and subject to strict requirements, including registration and compliance with safety, transparency, and quality standards.

AI tools deemed “limited risk,” such as chatbots, will face lighter regulatory burdens, primarily focused on transparency obligations.

The EU began implementing the AI Act in stages last year, with the full set of rules expected to take effect by mid-2026.

News