EU Eyes Targeted Easing Of AI Act With One Year Grace Period

The European Commission is considering targeted changes to the AI Act as part of a Digital Omnibus package. A draft seen by Reuters proposes exemptions from registering in the high-risk AI database when systems are used only for narrow or procedural tasks, plus a one-year grace period before penalties apply, starting August 2, 2027. Rules requiring marking of AI-generated output would also be phased in. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen is due to present the proposal on November 19. The review follows lobbying by Apple, Meta, and others, as well as criticism from the U.S. government. The Commission frames the plan as a proportionate implementation that simplifies recent rulemaking while keeping core safeguards. Critics are likely to test whether simplifications preserve safety and trust across the single market.

Reuters, Foo Yun Chee – Big Tech may win reprieve as EU mulls easing AI rules, document shows – 7th November 2025