EU AI Act (Risk Tiers)
The European Union's AI regulation classifies systems into four tiers: prohibited (social scoring, manipulative or exploitative uses — banned outright), high-risk (biometrics, hiring, credit, critical infrastructure — subject to conformity assessments, documentation, and oversight), limited-risk (chatbots, deepfakes — transparency obligations), and minimal-risk (most other uses — voluntary codes). General-purpose AI models carry their own tier of obligations. Enforcement is phased through 2026 and beyond.
Related terms
- AI Governance
The framework of policies, procedures, and controls that guide the development, deployment, and use of AI systems within an organization. Ensures AI aligns with organizational values and regulations.
- Responsible AI
An approach to developing and deploying AI systems that prioritizes ethical considerations, fairness, transparency, privacy, and accountability throughout the AI lifecycle.
Also referenced: Compliance.
Related on this site
Where this fits
EU AI Act (Risk Tiers) is part of the Ethics & Governance vocabulary used in the Generative AI Maturity Framework. See the full glossary for the complete set of 149 defined terms, or take the free maturity assessment to see where your organisation stands.