EU AI Act prompts new rules, pilot labs and industry guidance

The European Union’s AI Act is shaping a range of regulatory measures. From 2 August 2026, audio, image and video content produced or altered by artificial intelligence must carry a clear label, a requirement highlighted in a webinar on AI‑generated advertising. The Act also contains special exemptions for military and defence applications, a point explained by Hans Christoph Atzpodien in relation to the Bundeswehr and the defence industry.

A trilateral pilot project led by the German Federal Network Agency, the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and the Federal Data Protection Commissioner successfully simulated a KI‑Reallabor, producing a roadmap for high‑risk AI systems in medical devices under the AI Act and the Medical Devices Regulation. The same regulatory framework is at the core of companies’ efforts to certify AI solutions, as detailed by the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence, which outlines risk‑based requirements for AI safety and compliance.

In the trade and exhibition sector, AI tools are being deployed for social‑media analysis and content creation, but firms must comply with the AI Act’s obligations to label deep‑fakes and disclose AI‑generated chatbot interactions. These developments illustrate how the AI Act is driving both compliance measures and innovation initiatives across Europe.