Short summary
EU lawmakers reached a provisional agreement in 2024 on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act — the first major regional law to set rules for how AI can be developed and used. It uses a risk-based approach: some AI uses are banned, many high-risk systems must meet strict transparency, data-quality, and human‑oversight rules, and providers and deployers face documentation and auditing requirements. Large fines and enforcement steps are part of the package.
Why this matters for business
– If your company uses AI agents, automation, or AI-powered reporting, the Act affects how you build, buy, and operate those systems.
– Non‑compliance can mean fines, blocked deployments, or customer trust damage.
– Even companies outside the EU will feel the impact if they sell to or operate in the EU — vendors will change contracts, data flows, and product features globally.
Practical next steps (what your company should do now)
1. Inventory AI systems fast — include models, agents, dashboards, and automation tools. Don’t forget low‑code/third‑party tools embedded in workflows.
2. Classify risk — identify which systems are likely “high‑risk” (e.g., hiring, credit scoring, safety-critical automation, certain biometric uses). High‑risk triggers stronger obligations.
3. Map data flows and ownership — document what data is used, where it’s stored, and who controls it. Data quality and training-data provenance matter.
4. Implement basic governance — assign an AI owner, set approval gates, require model cards and change logs, and define human‑in‑the‑loop rules where needed.
5. Vendor due diligence — ask providers for conformity evidence, model documentation, and security attestations before deployment. Update contracts to reflect compliance needs.
6. Start auditing and monitoring — set up accuracy, bias, and safety checks, and log decisions from AI agents and automation.
7. Pilot with controls — run small, monitored pilots for any system touching regulated areas before wide rollout.
How [RocketSales](https://getrocketsales.org) helps
At RocketSales we guide businesses through the practical side of compliance without losing momentum on value:
– Rapid AI inventory and risk classification tailored to your operations (sales, reporting, automation).
– Design and implementation of governance, logging, and human‑in‑loop controls so your AI agents and automation meet legal and operational requirements.
– Vendor selection and contract templates to secure compliant third‑party AI tools.
– Implementation support: deployment, monitoring dashboards, and training so teams can adopt AI safely and quickly.
Why act now
Regulation will change vendor behavior and customer expectations. Getting ahead reduces legal risk, prevents costly rework, and keeps AI projects delivering savings and revenue.
Want help preparing your AI systems for the EU AI Act and making them operationally compliant? RocketSales can run a short readiness assessment and a stepped plan for deployment and monitoring.
Learn more or schedule a quick consult: https://getrocketsales.org
