Parliament proposed that “for high-risk AI systems specifically listed in the regulation–including those involving biometrics, and those used in critical infrastructure, education, employment, essential services, law enforcement, justice and border management,” the regulation would be applied on Dec. 2, 2027. For AI systems “that are “covered by EU sectoral legislation on safety and market surveillance,” it set a date of Aug. 2, 2028. The statement also noted that members are “in favor of giving providers until November 2, 2026 to comply with rules on watermarking AI-created audio, image, video or text content to indicate its origin.”
Use time to prepare
Jason Hookey, executive counselor at the Info-Tech Research Group, said that he agreed with some of Parliament’s decision.
“The EU’s choice to delay high-risk AI obligations makes sense. Most people agree with the purpose of these rules, but there are concerns that organizations won’t be able to meet them without sufficient guidance, technical standards, or appropriate support. It’s important to note that the delay only changes the timeline, not the main goals around high-risk AI,” Hookey said. “Organizations that use this time well will be better prepared for compliance, control, and building market trust. Those who wait may only put off problems and miss out on the benefits of well-managed AI.”
