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What is the EU AI Act, and does it apply in the UK?
Short answer
The EU AI Act is the European Union's law on artificial intelligence. It bans some uses, sets rules for high-risk systems and requires transparency, such as telling people they're talking to AI. It doesn't apply in the UK itself, but it can apply to UK businesses that provide or use AI systems affecting people in the EU.
Key dates
| Date | What applies |
|---|---|
| 1 August 2024 | Act entered into force |
| 2 February 2025 | Banned practices and AI literacy duties |
| 2 August 2025 | Rules for general-purpose AI models |
| 2 August 2026 | Most rules, including Article 50 transparency, and enforcement starts |
| 2 December 2026 | New bans on AI that generates non-consensual sexual deepfakes and child abuse material |
| 2 December 2027 | High-risk rules for Annex III systems (delayed by the Digital Omnibus) |
| 2 August 2028 | High-risk rules for AI in regulated products |
Source: the European Commission's AI Act Service Desk.
Does the UK have an AI Act?
No. The UK has no single AI law. Existing laws, such as UK GDPR, consumer law and equality law, apply to AI, along with specific offences such as creating sexual deepfakes. See is AI regulated in the UK?
Does it affect my UK small business?
Only if you sell AI products or AI-powered services into the EU, or your AI tools affect people there. A UK plumber using ChatGPT for quotes isn't affected. A UK firm selling an AI chatbot to EU customers should get advice.
Related questions
What does Article 50 require?
Transparency: people should know when they're interacting with AI, and some AI-generated content must be labelled or marked.
Are there AI laws in the UK?
Yes, existing laws apply to AI use, but there's no AI-specific act.
Sources
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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