2 August 2026 isn't just another compliance deadline. It's the moment when AI governance stops being optional for any enterprise operating high-risk AI systems in the European market.
What Changes on August 2
High-risk AI systems—including those used in employment, credit scoring, insurance, and critical infrastructure—must demonstrate full compliance with Articles 9-15 of the EU AI Act.
This means operational risk management systems, automatic event logging, transparency documentation, human oversight mechanisms, and accuracy/robustness guarantees.
The Enforcement Reality
Penalties for non-compliance reach €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover—whichever is higher. But the immediate risk isn't fines. It's market access.
Non-compliant AI systems cannot legally operate in the EU market. For global enterprises, this creates an impossible choice: achieve compliance or exit the market.
Six Months to Prepare
If you're reading this in early 2026, you have approximately six months. That's enough time to implement proper governance infrastructure—but not enough time to build it from scratch internally.
This is why CleanAim® exists. We've spent years building the infrastructure so you don't have to.