EU Stands Firm on AI Act Timeline Despite Tech Industry Pushback
The European Union has made it clear that it will not delay the implementation of its AI Act, despite mounting pressure from over a hundred tech companies. Industry leaders, including Alphabet, Meta, and Mistral AI, have argued that the legislation could stifle innovation and hinder Europe’s competitiveness in the global AI market.
“There is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause,” stated European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, emphasizing the bloc’s determination to proceed as planned.
The AI Act categorizes AI applications based on risk levels. “Unacceptable risk” uses, such as social scoring and cognitive behavioral manipulation, are outright banned. “High-risk” applications, including biometrics and facial recognition, face stringent compliance requirements. Meanwhile, “limited risk” systems like chatbots must adhere to lighter transparency rules.
The phased rollout of the AI Act began last year, with full enforcement expected by mid-2026. Companies developing AI systems must register their products and meet specific risk management standards to operate within the EU market.
