Originally published on AI Tech Connect.
What changes on 2 August 2026 The obligations themselves are not new. GPAI provider duties under the AI Act entered into application on 2 August 2025, and any general-purpose AI model placed on the EU market after that date has been on the hook ever since. What was missing for the first year was the Commission's enforcement teeth. From 2 August 2026 the Commission — operating through the AI Office — can investigate, request information, conduct audits and issue fines. Maximum penalty: up to 3% of worldwide annual turnover or €15 million, whichever is higher. This is the GPAI-specific cap; non-compliance with other AI Act provisions (prohibited practices, high-risk system breaches) carries higher caps. Who enforces: the European Commission's AI Office, with national co-ordination through…
