The EU AI Act sets out rules for AI developers and deployers using a risk-based approach. The AI Act is enforced as of 2 August 2026 by the European Commission’s AI Office together with national authorities.
AI Literacy Training
The AI Act requires providers and deployers of AI systems to take measures to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy of their staff and anyone using AI systems on their behalf, for example, contractors and suppliers.
These training resources may be useful to help you comply with the AI literacy requirement:
- AI literacy practices from organisations compiled by the European Commission
- AI literacy programmes compiled by the Future of Life Institute
Transparency Guidelines
Article 50 of the AI Act sets out transparency and labelling obligations for providers and deployers of AI systems to foster trust and integrity and to allow people to know when they are interacting with AI or exposed to AI-generated content.
Translation is not excluded as a category under the AI Act. Depending on how an AI-generated translation is produced, delivered and published, the Article 50 transparency obligations may apply:
- Where the translation is provided through an AI system interacting directly with natural persons (Article 50(1)). For example, a multilingual customer-service chatbot that translates a query, generates a reply and translates it back.
- Where the translation goes beyond standard editing and substantially alters the meaning of the source. For example, adding claims, arguments or a condensed rewrite rather than a faithful rendering (Article 50(2)).
- Where AI-generated or manipulated translated text is published to inform the public on matters of public interest, unless it has undergone human review and a natural or legal person assumes editorial responsibility for it (Article 50(4)).
The Commission’s Guidelines nevertheless clarify that translation workflows fall outside these obligations when:
- AI-enabled automated translation where the system does not present itself as an AI interlocutor interacting directly with natural persons.
- AI-generated translations that preserve the meaning and structure of the source text, treated as standard editing rather than the generation of new content. Following the Commission’s final Guidelines of 20 July 2026, this covers full translated articles produced and published as such, alongside grammar correction, spellchecking and minor stylistic polishing.
- AI-supported translation of human-written content has undergone human review, with a natural or legal person assuming editorial responsibility for the final version.
High-Risk Use Cases
The AI Act specifies use cases that can pose serious risks to health, safety or fundamental rights as high-risk. These include, among others, AI solutions used in educational institutions to determine access to education, AI tools for employment, AI use-cases in law enforcement, migration, asylum and border control, and AI solutions used in the administration of justice and democratic processes.
From 2 December 2027, high-risk AI systems will be subject to strict obligations including risk assessment and mitigation, appropriate human oversight and high level of robustness, cybersecurity and accuracy.
The EUATC has responded to the Commission’s consultation on the draft guidelines on the classification of high-risk AI systems, outlining its position: Within high-risk AI use cases, where translation determines the outcome of a high-risk decision, it should not be grouped with supporting, narrow procedural or preparatory tasks, but seen as a high-risk activity.
AI Act’s Impact Outside the EU
The EU AI Act impacts LSPs both within and outside the EU. The Act applies, among other things, to:
- providers placing on the market or putting into service AI systems or general-purpose AI models in the EU, even if the provider is established in a third country
- deployers of AI systems that are established or located within the EU
- providers and deployers of AI systems that are established or located in a third country, where the output produced by the AI system is used in the EU
Find Out More
This brief is intended for information purposes only and not as legal advice. Always refer to reliable and authoritative sources to determine compliance needs.
European Commission: AI Act Information Page
Future of Life Institute: EU Artificial Intelligence Act Information Page
