Approved in 2024, the EU AI Act aims to ensure AI systems are safe, transparent, and trustworthy, addressing concerns like bias and privacy while still supporting innovation.
In this session, we’ll explore how the AI Act is not just a box-ticking exercise, but how aligning with it actually lets companies build trust, gain a competitive edge, and confidently leverage AI across industries in a sustainable, reliable, and ethical way.
At a glance
A risk-based approach sorts AI into four categories: unacceptable, high, limited, minimal with obligations scaled to risk. Unacceptable-risk systems are banned; high-risk systems face strict requirements (conformity assessment, registration, and strict control); limited-risk systems carry transparency obligations; minimal-risk systems face no additional AI Act steps beyond general laws e.g., privacy, copyright, and HSE legislation – and, as always, the responsibility to ensure proper training for those using the tools or services.
The scope is broad: providers, users/deployers, importers, and distributors touching the EU market must comply, with robust enforcement and significant penalties for serious violations.
Why it matters for business
- Strengthen trust with customers and investors through ethical, safe, transparent AI, and accountable governance.
- Drive innovation via clarity and regulatory sandboxes – test with regulators and build compliant-by-design features.
- Boost adoption and investment, as clear rules weed out low-quality solutions and favour responsible AI.
- First-mover advantage, as other regions follow the EU’s lead.
Dual responsibility (product + people)
The Act has a dual nature:
- Product responsibility for developers, providers, and distributors to meet safety, transparency, and risk-management standards across the lifecycle.
- HSE responsibilities for organisations to ensure proper, relevant, and ongoing AI literacy and ethical training for all employees using AI – a management responsibility to maintain.
Aspired learning impact
This short session will give you an understanding of the Act’s risk-based categories and obligations, as well as:
- Dual responsibility: product compliance + HSE training
- Key milestones (2025–2027) you can’t miss
- Your 6-step compliance checklist