The EU AI Act timeline.

Statutory milestones

1. 02 Feb 2025In force

   Prohibited practices (Art. 5) apply; AI literacy duty (Art. 4)

   Art. 113(a)

2. 02 Aug 2025In force

   GPAI model obligations apply

   Art. 113(b) / Ch. V

3. 02 Aug 2026In force

   Art. 50 transparency (chatbots, deepfake, emotion) · watermarking for new generative systems · full GPAI enforcement

   Art. 113 / Art. 50

4. 02 Dec 2026Next deadline

   Watermarking for pre-existing generative systems · new NCII/CSAM prohibition & safeguard duty

   Art. 5 (Omnibus) / Art. 50(2)

5. 02 Aug 2027Upcoming

   National regulatory sandboxes · legacy GPAI compliance deadline · Annex I sectoral implementing acts

   Art. 57 / Art. 111

6. 02 Dec 2027Upcoming

   Annex III high-risk obligations apply (Chapter III, Section 2)

   Art. 113 (Omnibus)

7. 02 Aug 2028Upcoming

   Annex I embedded high-risk obligations apply

   Art. 113(c)