EU AI Act Enforcement Begins: First Compliance Deadlines and What Organizations Must Do Now

The European Union's AI Act has begun enforcement with the first wave of prohibitions on unacceptable-risk AI applications taking effect. Enforcement of high-risk AI system requirements begins in August 2026. Organizations must complete AI system inventories, classify systems by risk tier, and register high-risk AI in the EU database. Non-compliance penalties reach €30M or 6% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher. Enforcement agencies in Germany, France, and the Netherlands have already opened initial compliance reviews.