Intermediate · Safety
High-Risk AI Classification
Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.
TL;DR. EU AI Act designation for AI systems that materially affect people's rights, safety, or opportunities.
Technical Definition
EU AI Act designation for AI systems that materially affect people's rights, safety, or opportunities.
How it works
Under the EU AI Act, high-risk AI includes systems used in recruiting, credit scoring, education, critical infrastructure, medical devices, and law enforcement. High-risk systems must meet strict requirements: risk management, high-quality datasets, logging, transparency, human oversight, and conformity assessments. In 2026, providers of general-purpose AI models (GPAI) such as OpenAI and Google are also held liable when their models create systemic risks, extending accountability downstream to every company that integrates them.
Related Concepts
- AI Governance — The framework of policies, regulations, and principles designed to guide the development and deployment of AI technologies.
- AI Compliance — Adhering to legal requirements — notably the EU AI Act — for how AI systems are built and operated.
- Trusted AI — A quality standard — often certified — proving that an AI system is secure, transparent, and robust.