EU AI Act Technical Reference
A technical reference for EU AI Act implementation: key article summaries, definitions, risk classification criteria, and implementation notes for AI engineering teams.
This technical reference summarizes the key articles and definitions of the EU AI Act that are most relevant for AI engineering teams, compliance officers, and governance architects.
It focuses on implementation implications — what each article requires in technical terms, and how those requirements translate into system design, data architecture, and operational processes.
Key Definitions
AI system (Article 3): machine-based system designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy. High-risk AI system: AI systems listed in Annex III or used as safety components. Provider: legal entity that places an AI system on the market. Deployer: entity using an AI system in a professional context.
Implementation Timeline
The EU AI Act follows a phased implementation: prohibited AI practices banned from February 2025; high-risk AI obligations apply from August 2026; general-purpose AI model rules apply from August 2025; full application from August 2026 for most provisions.