This is a joint article written with Ethiqais, an OVHcloud Startup Program member providing a solution for intelligent auditing of AI system compliance.
AI Act regulation and actual implementation at a larger scale is only a few weeks ahead with its first real impact on businesses.
We wanted to recap the main information to have in mind with this short recap – as of April 2025.
𝗘𝗨 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗰𝘁: 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲?
The EU’s AI Act is a global regulation already implemented in Europe, with now the Ban on AI Systems with Unacceptable risks since February 2025.
The AI Act applies to providers and deployers of AI systems within the EU, aiming to ensure product safety and mitigate risks associated with AI use.
🔑 Core objectives:
• Creating a framework of trust for AI adoption
• Encouraging responsible innovation
• Protecting fundamental rights and user data
⏱️ Key timeline milestones:
• August 2024: Law enters into force
• February 2025: Ban on unacceptable risk AI systems
• May 2025: AI Office Codes of Practice ready
• August 2025: GPAI model regulations effective
• August 2026: Full application to all AI systems
The Act creates a two-level governance structure:
1️ National authorities supervising AI systems
2️ European Commission and AI Office regulating general-purpose AI models
While the legal complexity is significant, the goal is straightforward: making AI trustworthy while fostering innovation.
Businesses face several challenges in complying with the EU AI Act due to its complexity and stringent requirements.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 ?
The EU AI Act introduces a four-tier risk classification system that is key to understand:
🔴 Unacceptable Risk (PROHIBITED): • Social scoring systems • Emotion recognition in workplaces/education • Biometric categorization systems that infer sensitive attributes • Scraping facial images from the internet • Manipulative or deceptive AI
🟠 High Risk: • Medical devices • Recruitment systems • Critical infrastructure • Education and vocational training • Law enforcement systems
🟡 Specific Transparency Risk: • Chatbots • Deepfakes • AI-generated content → Must clearly disclose they are AI-generated
🟢 Minimal Risk: • Anti-spam filters • AI in video games • Most business applications
The penalties are severe: up to 7% of global annual turnover or €35 million for violations related to prohibited practices.
Before deploying any AI system, you need to assure the use of the AI system and to assess its risk – this will determine your compliance exigence.
Talking about compliance is also talking about processes and governance.
OVHcloud and ETHIQAIS have been among the very first signatories of the AI Pact at the European Commission and can help you navigate in this new regulatory framework:
With OVHcloud:
🔹 European Trusted Cloud with Data Sovereignty at its heart
🔹 A wide rage of GPU & Compute capabilities with best-in-class sustainable infrastructure
With Ethiqais:
🔹 Automate documentation for AI systems
🔹 Elaborate AI global governance and real-time conformity assessment
Next week: Know Your Role & Responsibilities
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Fostering and enhancing impactful collaborations with a diverse array of AI partners, spanning Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Startups, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Global System Integrators (GSIs), subject matter experts, and more, to deliver added value to our joint customers.
🏁 CAREER JOURNEY – Got a Master degree in IT in 2007 and started career as an IT Consultant
In 2010, had the opportunity to develop business in the early days of the new Cloud Computing era.
In 2016, started to witness the POWER of Partnerships & Alliances to fuel business growth, especially as we became the main go-to MSP partner for healthcare French projects from our hyperscaler.
Decided to double down on this approach through various partner-centric positions: as a managed service provider or as a cloud provider, for Channels or for Tech alliances.
➡️ Now happy to lead an ECOSYSTEM of AI players each bringing high value to our joint customers.