The European Union will proceed as planned with the rollout of its landmark Artificial Intelligence Act, dismissing calls from major tech companies to delay implementation. The European Commission reaffirmed on Friday that the timeline remains intact, with the full legislation set to take effect by mid-2026, according to Reuters.
The decision comes after more than 100 technology companies—including Alphabet, Meta, France’s Mistral AI, and Dutch chipmaker ASML—appealed to the EU to postpone the rules. The firms warned that strict compliance measures could hinder innovation and undercut Europe’s competitiveness in the rapidly advancing AI sector.
Despite the pressure, the Commission emphasized its commitment to enforcing the regulation on schedule. “There is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause,” said Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier, according to the report.
The AI Act introduces a tiered regulatory framework based on risk classification. Applications deemed to pose “unacceptable risk,” such as cognitive manipulation or social scoring, will be outright banned. “High-risk” applications—such as facial recognition or AI used in hiring or education—will face stringent requirements, including registration, transparency, and compliance with safety and quality standards.
Systems considered “limited risk,” including chatbots and AI-driven customer service tools, will be subject to lighter transparency obligations.
The Act has been rolling out in phases since its adoption in 2023. While some provisions are already in force, the bulk of the legislation will apply across the EU by mid-2026, making it the world’s most comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence to date.