EU Agrees To Softer AI Rules After Industry Pressure
European Union countries and lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement to ease parts of the bloc’s landmark artificial intelligence legislation, delaying several key obligations and reducing compliance burdens for companies.
The deal, struck after nine hours of negotiations on Thursday, still requires formal approval from EU governments and the European Parliament in the coming months.
EU Delays Key AI Act Provisions
The revised agreement pushes back enforcement deadlines for high-risk AI systems until December 2, 2027, extending the previous August 2026 implementation target.
The delayed rules apply to AI technologies involving biometrics, critical infrastructure and law enforcement systems. Policymakers said the postponement would give companies more time to comply and reduce regulatory burdens.
The changes form part of the European Commission strategy to simplify digital regulations after businesses complained that overlapping rules and excessive bureaucracy were undermining competitiveness against rivals in the United States and Asia.
Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’s deputy minister for European affairs, said the agreement would help businesses by lowering recurring administrative costs. Cyprus currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
Machinery Exempted From AI Act
EU governments and lawmakers also agreed to remove machinery from the scope of the AI Act because such products are already covered by sector-specific regulations.
The concession followed sustained pressure from industry groups seeking fewer compliance obligations. Critics, however, argue that the move demonstrates Europe softening its stance under pressure from major technology companies.
The AI Act originally entered into force in August 2024 and remains one of the world’s strictest regulatory frameworks governing artificial intelligence.
New Ban Targets Explicit AI Content
Lawmakers also approved a ban on AI systems that generate unauthorised sexually explicit images and intimate deepfakes. The restriction will take effect from December 2.
The measure follows controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated content linked to xAI chatbot Grok on X.
Dutch lawmaker Kim van Sparrentak said the rules would protect women, girls and children from abusive AI applications and “nudifier” tools becoming widely accessible in the EU market.
Watermarking Rules To Begin This Year
The agreement also confirms mandatory watermarking requirements for AI-generated content from December 2. The measure aims to improve transparency and help users identify synthetic media online.
Although the legislation has been softened in some areas, the AI Act still imposes strict obligations on developers and deployers of advanced AI systems. European policymakers continue to present the framework as a global benchmark for regulating artificial intelligence and mitigating risks linked to cybersecurity, misinformation and public safety.
With inputs from Reuters
