EU AI Act in Force: What DACH SMEs Need to Know Now
EU AI Act: The Key Obligations for SMEs
Since 2 February 2026, EU AI Act Art. 4 applies in full — even for companies that only use AI, not develop it.
What Applies to SMEs?
AI Literacy (Art. 4): All employees who use AI systems must be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of AI, its risks, and its limits. The training obligation has applied from day one.
Risk classification: Systems in categories such as HR, credit scoring, and critical infrastructure are considered high-risk and require conformity assessment, documentation, and human oversight.
HITL requirement: High-risk AI decisions must be reviewable by a human. “Human-in-the-loop” is no longer best practice — it is mandatory.
How IIO Keeps Customers Compliant
IIO implements AI Act compliance as an integral part of every workflow:
- Gate system: Every critical AI decision runs through a HITL gate
- Audit trail: Full traceability of all AI actions
- AI literacy training: Automated training programmes for teams
- Compliance documentation: ISO 42001-compliant evidence generated automatically
Intelego customers are compliant automatically — no extra effort.
What the EU AI Act Actually Requires
The EU AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024. The key deadlines:
| Date | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | Art. 4: AI literacy for all employees (already in effect) |
| Aug 2026 | High-risk AI systems: full compliance |
| Aug 2027 | All existing high-risk systems retrofitted |
Which AI Systems Are “High-Risk”?
Under the EU AI Act, high-risk AI systems are those used in critical areas:
- HR decisions (application screening, promotions)
- Credit scoring and insurance
- Education and vocational training
- Critical infrastructure
Most SME AI applications fall into the “limited risk” category — with simpler requirements (transparency obligation, no full risk classification).
Art. 4: AI Literacy — What It Means
Since February 2025, companies must ensure that all employees working with AI systems have the necessary competence. This includes:
- A basic understanding of the AI systems in use
- Knowledge of risks and limitations
- Awareness of human oversight duties
IIO offers a certified AI literacy programme for this, with automatic compliance evidence.
Next step: Configure your package or talk to us.