European AI Office sets out role in enforcing the AI Act

The European AI Office, housed within the European Commission, is the foundation for a single EU AI governance system. It supports implementation of the AI Act, with a particular focus on general-purpose AI, while aiming to protect health, safety and fundamental rights and provide legal certainty for businesses.

The office can help enforce GPAI rules through Commission powers that include model evaluations, information requests, corrective measures and sanctions. It also prepares guidance, codes of practice, tools, methodologies and benchmarks, while investigating possible infringements and supporting consistent application of the AI Act across Member States.

The AI Office employs more than 125 staff across policy, technical, legal, economic and administrative roles, organised into 6 units and 2 advisers. It works with the European Artificial Intelligence Board, a Scientific Panel, an Advisory Forum, the AI Pact and the Apply AI Alliance to connect regulators, experts, industry, startups, academia and civil society.

Its broader mandate includes promoting trustworthy AI adoption, international cooperation and initiatives such as the AI Continent action plan, the Apply AI Strategy, GenAI4EU, AI Factories, Testing and Experimentation Facilities, sandboxes, European Digital Innovation Hubs and AI skills programs.