EU AI Act to be fully implemented by August 2028

The European Union’s AI Act is scheduled for full implementation on August 2, 2028, marking the date when all regulatory requirements for high-risk artificial intelligence systems will become mandatory. This timeline was confirmed in a report published this week by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). The regulation, which was originally published in July 2024 and subsequently amended in 2026, is already partially in effect, establishing a risk-based classification for AI systems and evaluating general-purpose models based on their technical capabilities.

A primary factor contributing to the current implementation schedule is the delay in developing harmonized standards. The European Commission had originally mandated the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization to finalize these essential technical standards by an April 2025 deadline. However, this deadline was not met, leading to adjustments in the overall roadmap for high-risk AI system compliance. The EPRS notes that these standards are critical for operationalizing the safety and transparency requirements mandated by the EU regulatory framework.