The European Commission is setting up one of the most consequential governance bodies under the AI Act: the AI Scientific Panel. Its 60 independent experts will serve a two-year term, advising the European AI Office (and national authorities) on GPAI models and systems. They will have an big say on how the most advanced AI technologies need to be tested or what future developments would mean for the law.

From tomorrow onwards, the EU’s rules for the most advanced AI models officially apply. This day is a pivotal moment: not just for the AI Act but for the EU’s overall AI strategy.

The AI Office has finally clarified which actors will fall under the AI Act’s rules for GPAI models – way too late – but those explanations are bringing the much-needed clarity for industry. Importantly, the GPAI rules are now officially confirmed to be in force from 2 August 2025.

Yesterday, the European Commission published the long-awaited Code of Practice for General Purpose AI (GPAI) models – a key element for implementing the AI Act. Having followed this process closely from the legislative negotiations until now, I concluded in my piece for Süddeutsche Zeitung Dossier that the Code is not a breakthrough but that it is a necessary step forward – though one with significant design flaws.