EU member states poised to approve code of practice for general purpose AI ahead of AI Act Deadline

EU member states are expected to formally approve the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI by 22 July, just before the AI Act’s new rules for AI systems take effect, setting the stage for providers to begin signing up.

Member states’ formal approval of the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI (GPAI) could come as early as 22 July, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision would arrive just days before the AI Act’s provisions affecting GPAI systems take effect on 2 August.

The European Commission presented the Code last week as a voluntary set of rules designed by EU-appointed experts to help providers of AI models—such as ChatGPT and Gemini—comply with the AI Act. Companies that sign up are expected to have more legal certainty, while others may face increased inspections.

Approval of the Code requires sign-off from EU member states, represented in a subgroup of the AI Board, as well as the Commission’s AI Office. The 27 EU countries are expected to finalize their assessment of the Code next week, and if the Commission completes its review as well, providers can formally register.

Originally slated for release in May, the document was delayed and has faced criticism. Tech giants, publishers, and rights-holders have raised concerns that the rules could violate EU copyright laws and limit innovation.

The AI Act, which began coming into force in stages from August last year, regulates AI systems according to the risks they pose to society.

OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, has stated that it will sign up to the code once it is ready. “The Code of Practice opens the door for Europe to move forward with the EU AI Continent Action Plan that was announced in April—and to build on the impact of AI that is already felt today,” the company said.

The publication of the Code has drawn mixed reactions. Consumer group BEUC and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) expressed hesitance about the final version. BEUC Senior Legal Officer Cláudio Teixeira called it a “step in the right direction,” but emphasized that voluntary initiatives “can be no substitute for binding EU legislation: they must complement and reinforce, not dilute, the law’s core protections for consumers.” CDT Europe’s Laura Lazaro Cabrera said the final draft “stops short of requiring their in-depth assessment and mitigation in all cases,” adding, “The incentive for providers to robustly identify these risks will only be as strong as the AI Office’s commitment to enforce a comprehensive, good-faith approach.”

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