The EU AI Act Two Years On - Key Developments & Practical Implications

Introduction

The EU AI Act introduces one of the most extensive and consequential regulatory frameworks affecting organisations across almost every jurisdiction. Although the legislation came into force on 1 August 2024, many provisions are being implemented in stages and key aspects of the guidance have continued to evolve over the past two years.

For lawyers advising clients on AI-related issues, keeping pace with these developments is essential. Understanding what has changed, what requirements are approaching and how regulators are interpreting the rules is increasingly critical to effective practice.

This short webinar is designed for practitioners who are already familiar with the structure of the EU AI Act and want a concise, authoritative update. You will gain a clear understanding of the latest developments, upcoming milestones and the practical implications for both your clients and your own advisory work.

Register today to ensure your advice remains current, confident and commercially relevant in this fast-moving area.

What You Will Learn

The webinar will cover the following:

• The EU AI Act implementation timeline - where are we now?
• The Act's entry into force on 1 August 2024 and the creation of the EU AI Office
• The first phase of implementation, including the ban on prohibited AI practices and AI literacy obligations from 2 February 2025
• The second phase, introducing obligations for general-purpose AI (‘GPAI’) models from 2 August 2025
• The Commission's Guidelines on Prohibited AI Practices (4 February 2025):
• Key guidance on harmful manipulation, social scoring and real-time remote biometric identification
• Their legal status and the role of the CJEU in providing authoritative interpretation
• The Commission's Guidelines on the Definition of an AI System (6 February 2025):
• Clarification of autonomy and other defining characteristics of AI systems
• Practical implications for businesses seeking to determine whether their technologies fall within scope
• The GPAI Code of Practice (10 July 2025):
• The application of GPAI obligations from 2 August 2025
• The Code's status as a voluntary compliance mechanism
• The advantages and potential drawbacks of adhering to the Code
• The Digital Omnibus on AI - proposed changes to the EU AI Act:
• The Commission's proposal and the provisional trilogue agreement reached in May 2026
• The postponement of compliance deadlines for high-risk AI systems
• The delayed introduction of watermarking obligations for AI-generated content
• A narrower definition of ‘safety component’, excluding systems that merely assist users or optimise performance without creating health or safety risks

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 18th September 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.