The European Union's AI Act took effect on August 1, 2024, introducing regulatory requirements for AI systems, including those used in education, covering data privacy, transparency and ethical standards for anything classed as high-risk.
The law's reach was already visible before it took effect: Meta announced in June 2024 that it was delaying AI deployment plans in Europe in response to regulatory pressure, including scrutiny from Ireland's Data Protection Commission.
Writing for higher education institutions, Dr Jasmin Cowin outlines the practical stakes: universities now face pre-market, or 'ex ante,' compliance obligations before deploying AI tools, and international partnerships and dual-degree programmes involving EU institutions may face disruption as compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty work through the sector.