10.8Practical Advice
Start with transparency. It is the easiest requirement and applies at all risk levels. Add "Powered by AI" to every AI-facing interface.
Build audit logging from day one. Retrofitting audit trails is expensive. Log model version, input, output, confidence, and contributing factors for every AI decision.
Bias testing is ongoing. A model that is fair at deployment can become biased as data distribution shifts. Test monthly, not once.
Keep compliance evidence automated. Regulators will ask for evidence. Automated test results with timestamps are stronger evidence than periodic manual reviews.
Stay updated. The EU AI Act implementation is phased into 2028 -- the Digital Omnibus deferred high-risk obligations to December 2027 (August 2028 for product-regulated systems), but until that package is formally enacted the original August 2026 date technically still stands. New guidance documents and technical standards are released regularly. Assign someone to track regulatory updates and confirm the binding dates before relying on any deferral.
Compliance is not a checkbox -- it is a continuous practice that overlaps significantly with good QA. A well-tested AI system is also a compliant one.