Governance

Unacceptable Risk AI

Definition

The highest risk tier under the EU AI Act, covering AI applications whose potential harms to society are deemed too severe to permit. Systems in this category are prohibited from being placed on the market or put into service in the EU.

Related Terms

Prohibited AI

AI practices banned outright under the EU AI Act because they pose unacceptable risks to fundamental rights or democratic values. Banned uses include real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, social scoring by public authorities, subliminal manipulation, and exploiting vulnerable groups.

EU AI Act

The world's first comprehensive AI regulation, adopted by the European Union in 2024 and entering full application in 2026. It classifies AI systems by risk level—unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal—and imposes obligations proportionate to risk, from outright bans to conformity assessments and transparency requirements.

High-Risk AI System

An AI system classified under the EU AI Act as posing significant risks to health, safety, or fundamental rights. High-risk systems must undergo conformity assessment, maintain technical documentation, enable human oversight, and be registered in an EU database before market deployment.

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