The European Union has reached a provisional agreement on the AI Act, the world's first comprehensive set of rules regulating the use of artificial intelligence.

The Act categorizes AI systems based on their impact on rights and imposes stricter requirements on high-risk systems.

The AI Act prohibits certain uses of AI, including biometric categorization systems and emotion recognition in workplaces and educational institutions.

Critics argue that the law may enable dystopian digital surveillance and does not adequately protect consumers.

The Act introduces strict rules for high-risk AI systems, including transparency, compliance, and human oversight.

General purpose AI systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT will be affected by the Act's requirements.

Government officials and lawmakers from EU countries are meeting to finalize the Act, which takes a risk-based approach and focuses on regulating the use of AI rather than the technology itself.

The law is expected to come into force in 2026, with compliance demands phased in over time.

France and Germany will analyze the compromises reached before fully supporting the Act.