Companies that have been racing to prepare for the European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (E.U. AI Act) now have more time to comply with many of its most significant requirements – but the compliance burden remains largely intact. The E.U. Digital Omnibus on AI (AI Omnibus), which entered into force on July 27, 2026, amends the E.U. AI Act with the stated goals of streamlining regulation and supporting innovation and competitiveness. The extent to which it will achieve those goals, however, remains an open question. This first article in a two-part series offers an overview of the AI Omnibus’ principal amendments to the E.U. AI Act, with insights from European experts at Bird & Bird, Freshfields, Gibson Dunn, Orrick and Taylor Wessing. Part two will discuss what companies can do to prepare for the new compliance deadlines and the impact of the AI Omnibus on enforcement. 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).