AI Act (European AI Regulation)

The AI Act (EU Regulation 2024/1689) is the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework dedicated to artificial intelligence. Adopted on 13 June 2024 by the European Union, it establishes a tiered approach based on the risk levels of AI systems: unacceptable risk (banned), high risk (heavily regulated), limited risk (transparency obligations) and minimal risk (unrestricted).

The rollout follows a phased timeline: February 2025 for prohibited practices (subliminal manipulation, social scoring), August 2025 for governance rules, and August 2026 for general application. AI systems used in the legal field, such as judicial decision support, case analysis and evidence assessment, are classified as "high-risk", which imposes strict obligations: conformity assessment, technical documentation, human oversight and transparency.

For legaltech players, the AI Act is both a constraint and an opportunity. Vendors must meet demanding requirements around data quality, algorithmic transparency and risk management. But this regulation also creates a competitive edge for compliant European solutions. The penalties for non-compliance are designed to deter: up to 35 million euros or 7% of global annual turnover.