Regulation and data
AI Act
The AI Act is Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, the European rule on artificial intelligence systems: it bans some uses, sets requirements for high-risk ones and transparency duties for others. It applies directly in Spain, and in July 2026 it was amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.
Also known asArtificial Intelligence Act · Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · EU AI Act · Reglamento de IA
Four layers, four timetables
It does not treat all systems alike: it sorts them by what they do and by the harm they could cause. And it splits the duties between the provider, who develops the system and places it on the market under its own name or trademark (art. 3.3), and the deployer, who uses it under its own authority (art. 3.4), such as a residence that contracts an assistant for its WhatsApp.
| Layer | What it covers | Since when |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited practices (art. 5) | Manipulating people or exploiting vulnerabilities, social scoring, or inferring emotions in the workplace and in education institutions, among others | 2 February 2025 |
| Literacy (art. 4) | Measures so that staff understand what they use: AI literacy | 2 February 2025; rewritten with effect from 27 July 2026 |
| Transparency (art. 50) | Telling people they are talking to an AI and marking synthetic content: AI transparency | 2 August 2026 |
| High risk (art. 6 and Annex III) | Admissions, employment, credit, essential services…: the high-risk AI system | 2 December 2027 for Annex III; 2 August 2028 for art. 6.1 |
Worth knowing
What people take for granted: that all of it started to apply on 2 August 2026. That is the general date in art. 113, but Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, the so-called digital omnibus on AI, in force since 27 July 2026, postponed high risk to the dates in the table and watered down art. 4. Art. 50 did not move. Spain still lacks the act setting the penalties: the bill lapsed when the Cortes, the Spanish parliament, were dissolved in October 2026. What applies to a WhatsApp assistant is in the guide to the AI Act in residences.
Sources
Related terms
- AI transparencyAI transparency is the requirement that people know they are talking to an artificial intelligence system. Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 places it on the provider, who must design the system to tell them, unless it is obvious, from 2 August 2026.
- High-risk AI systemA high-risk AI system is one that Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 subjects to its strictest requirements: one that is a safety component of a regulated product (art. 6.1) or one used in an area listed in Annex III, such as admission to education institutions or staff recruitment.