Sunday Breakfast, Regulation on the Side: Where Is the EU AI Act News?

By Lydik Grynfeltt, Director, HR Bridge Consulting

This past Sunday, pain au chocolat in hand and my trusted HR Bridge Consulting tea cup warming my breakfast table, I found my thoughts wandering as the morning’s news headlines scrolled by - yet nary a whisper about the European Union’s much-touted AI Act made it into the weekend press. Not a sign, not a single “breaking update”, just the usual fare of politics, celebrity birthdays and the weather in London. You’d think a regulation reshaping how companies across Europe must use artificial intelligence - potentially altering the fate of every HR department, tech startup and corporate compliance officer - would stir up a little more buzz. But apparently, AI legislation is not considered chic for the breakfast crowd, unless it comes accompanied by Elon Musk or a viral robot-dog act.

In truth, beneath the media’s nonchalance lies a profound regulatory shuffle that won’t be going away, regardless of how hard one bites into a pain au chocolat. While only a handful of countries - think Italy, Ireland, Denmark - have already chosen their mighty protectors of AI compliance and given them badges (and perhaps, superhero capes), a good eighteen or so are still debating which public agency is best suited and available for the job. Germany, as ever, is consulting. France has launched an AI Safety Institute (INESIA) but won’t make CNIL its clear lead for now—and in the Netherlands, the debate involves, you guessed it, more committees than tulips in the spring.

And let’s not forget the UK. As I sip my HR Bridge Consulting tea, I’m reminded that despite post-Brexit bravado, companies here are not immune to the EU AI Act’s influence. The hope swirling around London, much like that at American providers, is that the regulation will somehow bypass British shores. Sadly, unless Madame Von der Leyen makes a last–minute pirouette in policy (caught between the pressure of Silicon Valley and the regulatory romance of Brussels), the Act will remain a nagging reality for anyone selling AI into the EU market. Whether you’re in Soho or Silicon Valley, the EU’s rules are what you must follow if you want access to continental clients.

So what’s a business supposed to do, especially those in the HR game? For starters, don’t wait for the confetti to drop in Brussels. The age of “AI literacy” is here - your staff need to understand how algorithms work, not just how to spell them. Stop relying on vendor promises alone: sit your AI providers down and get their compliance declarations in writing. If you’re running high-risk AI - tools for recruitment, performance management, anything that taps into employee data - be ready to classify your systems, document every decision, and show regulators (whenever they do appear) that the rules matter to you. Remember, the EU is not bluffing on penalties. Fines can climb higher than a post-Brexit inflation curve.

What happens next? August 2026 is the next showstopper date. By then, the last wave of requirements will hit, particularly for ‘high-risk’ AI projects. HR teams should have mapped their systems, updated governance policies, and ensured a thorough review of bias, fairness, and human oversight. Don’t get trapped in the grey zone - proactive preparation is your best bet. Even if your national authorities are still busy choosing a new logo, EU-level enforcement will operate through the new AI Office and Board, creating a cross-border web of supervision.

The risk for those still ignoring this regulatory jazz? Litigation, reputational damage, and enough bureaucratic headaches to make GDPR look like a warm-up act. Your employee advocates, unions or works councils may challenge AI-driven decisions - and if you’re not prepared, you’ll be forced into expensive fast–track compliance, or, worse, the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Yet, as I finish my tea and the morning light shifts, the schizophrenia of Europe’s approach becomes ever clearer. Ursula Von der Leyen trumpets her “AI First” programme one week, talks up creativity and innovation, while the very fabric of the EU AI Act spins a web of regulation, transparency checks, and due diligence that would trip up even the smartest algorithm. It's an odd dance, somewhere between Trumpian deregulation and the heavy hand of Brussels.

My advice? Stay nimble, keep learning, and prepare your house - because clarity from Brussels is as elusive as a Parisian taxi on a rainy night. For now, as companies pick their way through this regulatory maze, let’s hope the next breakfast brings not only croissants but also an official update - or at least a headline. In the EU’s game of AI, don’t bet on the rules staying simple; after all, even Mrs. Von der Leyen seems stuck between her “AI First” dreams and the reality that Europe always prefers its rules heavy, baked, and ready for inspection.

Bon appétit - and good luck.