AI Regulation17 October 2026

AI Act: European Commission rejects the delay sought by Alphabet, Meta, ASML and Mistral

Alphabet, Meta, ASML and Mistral AI had asked Brussels for a multi-year delay of AI Act obligations. The European Commission said no: general-purpose AI rules stay in force, and the stricter requirements for high-risk systems will apply on schedule in August 2026. Cardan-AI explains why this refusal, far from a routine statement, is a rare signal of regulatory credibility.

The European Commission confirmed, through a spokesperson, that it is keeping the AI Act's enforcement timeline unchanged, with no delay and no grace period. Obligations on general-purpose AI (GPAI) models remain in force as applicable, and the stricter requirements for systems classified as high-risk will apply on schedule in August 2026.

The request for a delay came from a heavyweight group: Alphabet, Meta, ASML and Mistral AI had jointly asked for a multi-year postponement, citing compliance costs. The Commission ruled the other way, judging that the framework's legal certainty should take precedence over the flexibility sought by the companies involved.

The only concession announced is a future simplification of reporting obligations for small companies, later this year — without touching the law's structure or its deadlines. The signal is clear: the law is not up for negotiation on substance, only on its marginal administrative burden.

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