The Act is complex.
Your obligations
aren't ambiguous.
Fear, uncertainty, and doubt around the EU AI Act are understandable — the regulation is 144 pages of cross-referencing Articles, Annexes, and recitals. But for most organisations, the obligations are precise and manageable. Here is what you actually need to know.
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What is actually true.
The Act applies categorically to high-risk AI systems defined in Annex III, and prohibits a narrow set of practices under Article 5. Most minimal-risk tools — chatbots, content filters, basic recommendation engines — carry only transparency obligations, if any at all.
Step one is always classification. If your system does not appear in Annex III, is not built on a GPAI model with systemic risk, and does not fall under Article 5 prohibitions, your obligations may be limited to transparency notices and basic conformity requirements.
The obligations are substantial for high-risk systems, but they are also precisely specified. Annex IV lists exactly what technical documentation must contain. The burden comes from not having structured tooling — not from the regulation itself.
Standard Intelligence maps every Annex IV requirement to a questionnaire section, routes sections to the right team members, and generates submission-ready documentation. The same work that takes months in spreadsheets takes weeks in a purpose-built platform.
The prohibited practices rules have been in force since August 2024. GPAI model obligations applied from August 2025. High-risk system full technical documentation requirements apply from 2 August 2026. Preparedness takes time.
Annex IV documentation for high-risk AI systems must be complete and in order by 2 August 2026. For organisations with multiple systems, or complex approval chains, starting now is not early — it is appropriate. Early access on Standard Intelligence opens 1 June 2026.
Every deadline, in order.
The regulation entered into force on 1 August 2024 and applies in phases. Here is what has already applied and what is coming.
Your role in the value chain determines your obligations.
The Act distinguishes between providers, deployers, importers, distributors, and authorised representatives. Each role carries distinct obligations — and a single organisation may hold multiple roles simultaneously, depending on how it interacts with each AI system.
Ready to get structured?
Early access is open for organisations with high-risk AI systems that need to be compliant by 2 August 2026. Provisioning takes under 60 seconds.