TITLE: European Commission Seeks Feedback on Draft Guidelines for High-Risk Artificial Intelligence System Classification
BODY:
On May 19, 2026, the European Commission published draft guidelines clarifying the classification of high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) systems under the AI Act, alongside a list of practical examples for stakeholder consultation.
The guidelines aim to support AI providers and deployers in determining whether their systems qualify as high-risk. Under the AI Act, a limited list of AI system use cases are classified as high-risk when they endanger health, safety, or fundamental rights. The draft guidelines represent one component of a broader suite of Commission guidance designed to facilitate compliance with high-risk AI system obligations. The guidelines address the practical application of risk classification criteria, enabling organisations to better understand regulatory requirements and implement appropriate safeguards.
The draft guidelines are available on the AI Act Single Information Platform. The European Commission is inviting feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including AI system providers and developers, businesses, public authorities, academia, research institutions, and citizens. This targeted consultation period runs until June 23, 2026, allowing stakeholders to submit their views and contribute to the refinement of the guidelines before finalisation. The feedback received will inform the Commission's development of additional guidance to support compliance with high-risk AI system requirements across the European Union.
REFERENCES:
European Commission. "Commission seeks feedback on the draft guidelines for the classification of high-risk artificial intelligence systems." Press Release, May 19, 2026. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_3234