The European Union (EU) said it is set to expand enforcement of its artificial intelligence (AI) Act starting August 2, introducing new transparency obligations for AI systems operating across the bloc.

The European Commission on Friday said the latest phase of implementation would require AI systems such as chatbots to inform users when they are interacting with artificial intelligence instead of a human.

The new rules also require AI-generated or modified content, including deepfakes, images, videos, and audio recordings, to be clearly identified through labels and machine-readable markings.

The commission said the measures were designed to combat deception and manipulation while improving public awareness of AI-generated content.

Under the new enforcement phase, the EU AI Office will supervise providers of general-purpose AI models, particularly advanced systems that may present systemic risks.

Providers will be required to maintain proper documentation, establish copyright compliance policies, and provide detailed summaries of the data used to train their models.

The commission said developers of advanced AI models must also address potential risks related to cybersecurity, harmful manipulation, loss of human oversight and possible violations of fundamental rights.

The expanded enforcement will also apply to ban AI practices, including systems that manipulate users, exploit vulnerable groups or engage in certain forms of social scoring.

The AI Office, national regulatory authorities and the European Data Protection Supervisor will share responsibility for ensuring compliance with the regulations.

The commission noted that more than 180 organisations had joined a voluntary code of practice aimed at supporting compliance with the transparency requirements.

It said some obligations for high-risk AI systems had been postponed under the AI Omnibus, with certain rules now expected to apply from December 2027 and others from August 2028.

The EU AI Act, which took effect on August 1, 2024, is being introduced through a phased implementation process.

 (Xinhua/NAN)