AI policy updates, July 2026

EU Digital Omnibus on AI enters into force, moving high-risk AI Act duties to December 2027 and August 2028

Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, published in the Official Journal on 24 July 2026, entered into force on 27 July 2026. It amends Article 113 of the AI Act so that the Chapter III high-risk obligations apply from 2 December 2027 for stand-alone Annex III systems and from 2 August 2028 for AI embedded in Annex I products, adds two Article 5 prohibitions applying from 2 December 2026, and leaves the 2 August 2026 general application and Article 50 transparency dates in place. Recorded from concordant secondary reporting; confirm against the Official Journal text.

Practical impact: Re-plan high-risk conformity work to the December 2027 and August 2028 dates; transparency duties under Article 50 still applied from 2 August 2026.

Second AI Basic Plan adopted by Cabinet decision

Milestone recorded for Artificial Intelligence Basic Plan (Japan): Second AI Basic Plan adopted by Cabinet decision. Recorded from the official source listed; details to be expanded by a reviewer.

Ministry of Digital begins engagement and public consultation on the AI Governance Bill

Milestone recorded for Artificial Intelligence (Malaysia): Ministry of Digital begins engagement and public consultation on the AI Governance Bill. Recorded from the official source listed; details to be expanded by a reviewer.