European Commission Releases Draft Guidelines on High-Risk AI Under the EU AI Act
European Commission Releases Draft Guidelines on High-Risk AI Under the EU AI Act
Publish Date: 2026-05-20 13:48:00
Source Domain: www.hunton.com
- On May 19, 2026, the European Commission unveiled draft guidelines for classifying high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) systems under the EU AI Act.
- This draft aims to assist AI system providers, deployers, and authorities in identifying if an AI system falls into the high-risk category and complies with detailed regulations under the EU AI Act.
- The EU AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024, sets a risk-based framework where high-risk AI systems must meet strict requirements to safeguard health, safety, and fundamental rights.
- The draft guidelines are structured in three sections: general principles, classification for safety components and products, and classification for standalone systems in areas presenting significant risks.
- The guidelines come after delays in the release of the first guidance which raised concerns about the EU AI Act’s operational readiness.
- Concerns over delays prompted the recent Digital Omnibus on AI, leading to revised deadlines: December 2, 2027 for standalone high-risk AI and August 2, 2028 for embedded high-risk AI systems.
- The guidelines are open for a public consultation until June 23, 2026, and are not legally binding, with final interpretation resting with the Court of Justice of the European Union.
