How to Classify Your AI System Under the EU AI Act In Minutes
The EU AI Act is poised to transform the landscape of artificial intelligence development, evaluation, and deployment in Europe. A critical question that teams face is determining the risk category of their AI systems. This classification is crucial as it dictates the necessary documentation, mandatory controls, the need for human oversight, and the evaluation process by customers, auditors, and regulators.
The Four Risk Categories
Under the EU AI Act, AI systems are categorized into four distinct groups:
- Unacceptable: Systems that are prohibited.
- High-risk: These systems impose the most stringent requirements, including comprehensive risk management, rigorous testing, detailed technical documentation, logging, and mandatory human oversight.
- Limited-risk: Such systems must adhere to transparency obligations.
- Minimal-risk: These systems are not subject to additional restrictions.
While this classification framework appears straightforward, the challenge lies in accurately mapping a real product to these categories, which often leaves teams perplexed.
Utilizing the EU AI Act Risk Classification Wizard
The EU AI Act Risk Classification Wizard has been developed to assist teams in quickly and accurately classifying their AI systems. The process begins by requiring users to describe the AI techniques employed and the core functionality of their application. The tool then refines this context based on factors such as sector, user impact, deployment setting, and existing safeguards, ultimately determining if the system falls into the categories of prohibited, high-risk, limited, or minimal risk.
At the conclusion of this assessment, users receive a concise classification along with guidance on applicable obligations, delivered via email.
Beyond Classification: Implementing Necessary Controls
Classification is just the first step; the next involves implementing the relevant controls, testing, and documentation corresponding to the identified risk category. This is where many teams falter, as they may understand their classification but lack clarity on subsequent actions.
The platform is designed to facilitate this transition from initial assessment to a comprehensive compliance program. Users can manage risk, conduct guardrail testing in real-world conditions, and produce structured documentation and audit trails, all while generating exportable reports for stakeholders such as investors, customers, or regulatory bodies.
Why the Wizard is Free
The creators of the Wizard believe that responsible AI development should not be hindered by complex legal jargon or protracted consulting processes. By simplifying the initial classification decision—”What are we under the Act?”—they aim to elevate the industry’s baseline practices. The Wizard is free to use and designed for collaborative output, allowing product managers, engineers, legal counsel, and governance leads to engage, debate, and progress without waiting for custom memos.
Finding Value in Early Use
Early users of the Wizard have reported that it clarifies compliance requirements under the EU AI Act. This clarity is particularly beneficial during planning, as understanding whether a feature is limited risk or high-risk influences the project scope, sequencing, and go-to-market strategies. Additionally, during due diligence, the exported summary aids in discussions with security, legal, and procurement teams by providing a common framework.
If a system is classified as high-risk, the platform offers essential support including:
- Real-world safety testing addressing issues like bias, misuse, model drift, or sensitive data exposure.
- Mapping of necessary controls.
- Designing for human oversight.
- Documentation ready for audits.
Getting Started
For organizations developing or operating AI systems that interact with European users—or those whose customers do—the most effective way to navigate the uncertainty surrounding compliance is to utilize the assessment tool and determine their classification.
To start, visit the EU AI Act Risk Classification Wizard and begin your compliance journey.
Conclusion
The EU AI Act presents both challenges and opportunities for AI developers. By leveraging tools like the Risk Classification Wizard, organizations can ensure that they are not only compliant but also contributing to the development of responsible and trustworthy AI systems.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific inquiries, consult qualified legal counsel.
