The E.U. AI Act (Act) continues to reshape the regulatory landscape for AI. As the world’s first comprehensive AI framework, it sets obligations that will define how organizations design, deploy and manage AI systems. This article, distilling insights offered during a recent Bird & Bird presentation, covers significant developments under the Act, including the obligations that came into force in 2025, those taking effect in 2026 and strategies for meeting those obligations. It also reviews existing and anticipated guidance, transparency obligations and a pending proposal to amend the Act, which could extend certain compliance deadlines and ease some requirements. See our three-part series answering top questions about the E.U. AI Act: “Reach and Unique Requirements” (Apr. 24, 2024), “Risk Tiers and Big-Player Transparency” (May 1, 2024), and “Practical Steps and What’s Next” (May 8, 2024).