EU bans AI systems deemed to pose unacceptable risk as new regulations take effect

As of February 2, the European Union can ban AI systems deemed to pose "unacceptable risk." This marks the first compliance deadline for the EU's AI Act, which was approved last March after extensive development. The Act categorizes AI systems into four risk levels, with "unacceptable risk" applications, such as social scoring and deceptive manipulation, facing outright prohibition. Companies using these systems may face fines of up to €35 million or 7% of their annual revenue. Some exceptions exist, allowing law enforcement to use certain biometric systems under strict conditions. Additional guidelines from the European Commission are expected in early 2025, but clarity on compliance and interactions with other laws remains uncertain.