Full name: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act)

(Link to original text)

Type: Regulation

Objective and key elements:

• First ever attempt to create horizontal rules regarding AI
• Aiming to:
  • harmonise AI-regulation within the EU,
  • protect fundamental rights,
  • enhance the positive aspects of AI, and
  • ensure free movement of AI systems
• Applies to AI Systems and General Purpose AI
• Includes a risk-based approach depending on AI purposes (and risk levels divided in categories "unacceptable risk", "high risk", "limited risk", and "minimal risk")

Relevant to: Developers and users of AI systems and General Purpose AI.

Status: In force, will apply from 2 August 2026. However, Chapters I and II containing prohibitions on certain AI systems are applicable since 2 February 2025.

Section 4 of Chapter III on notified bodies, Chapter V on GPAI models, Chapter VII on governance, Chapter XII on penalties, and Article 78 on confidentiality will apply from 2 August 2025, with the exception of Article 101.

Article 6(1) on the classification rules for high-risk AI systems and the corresponding obligations in this Regulation will apply from 2 August 2027.

Next Steps: Application will start gradually, ranging from 6 months after entry into force until 36 months after entry into force. Most of the provisions will be applied 24 months after entry into force, i.e. 2 August 2026. Please see Article 113 of the AI Act for detailed application schedule.

Documents (newest on top):

• Draft Commission Guidelines on prohibited artificial intelligence practices established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act) are available here
• Corrigendum (text adopted by the Parliament) published on 19 April 2024 is available here
• Parliament's adopted negotiation position mandate (compromise text) is available here
  • Updated with inter alia tailor-made regimes for general-purpose AI and foundation models (like ChatGPT). Read more here.
• General approach by the Council published 6 December 2022 is available here
• EU Commission draft 21 April 2021 is available here

Hannes Snellman blog posts:

• Hannes Snellman’s Digital Horizon: AI Act – Part I (published 2 September 2024)
• Responsible AI (published 21 October 2024)
• Draft Government Proposal on the Implementation of EU’s AI Act Published (published 28 October 2024)
• Practical Contractual Considerations in Licensing Third-Party AI Applications and Solutions (published 16 December 2024)
• What AI Literacy Is All About and Why It Concerns Us All (available in Finnish) (published 31 January 2025)
• The ICC Marketing Code on AI, User-Generated Content, and Data-Driven Marketing (published 6 February 2025)
• Tekoälyasetuksen vaikutukset työpaikoilla – Mitä työnantajien on huomioitava? (published 19 March 2025)
• EU AI Act – Latest Regulatory Developments in Finland (published 13 May 2025)

Guidance:

• European Commission: Artificial Intelligence - Q&As

(Last updated 7 October 2025)

Status:

• The process for national implementation is ongoing in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. More information about the project is available here (in Finnish only).
• The aim of the working group is to plan and prepare the actions needed for the national implementation of the AI Act. The main sub-objective is to assess what national legislation is needed to implement the AI Act and to prepare a proposal for legislation to implement the AI Act.
• The draft Government Proposal outlines a new law for supervising certain AI systems and proposes amendments to existing laws related to product market surveillance, the Financial Supervisory Authority, and fines enforcement.
• The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (“Traficom”) is designated as the single point of contact and will be responsible for the coordination, while the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman is appointed as the supervisory authority regarding prohibited AI systems and for many high-risk AI systems. The supervision of AI systems will be integrated into the market surveillance system, which will include sectoral independent market surveillance authorities. In addition, a Sanctions Board will be established to impose administrative fines higher than EUR 300 000.
• The draft Government Proposal was circulated for comments until 4 December 2024. The draft Government Proposal is available here.
• The Government Proposal has been published on 8.5.2025. The Government Proposal is available here (in Finnish only).The proposal suggests enacting a law for the supervision of certain AI systems and amending laws related to market surveillance of certain products, financial supervision, the Energy Authority, and the enforcement of fines. The proposed laws are intended to come into force on 2 August 2025.
• The draft Government Proposal for the implementation of the second phase of the AI regulation is available here (in Finnish only). The Government Proposal is estimated to be published in September 2025.

(Last updated 14 May 2025)