AI Compliance Landscape Guide

Overview

The AI regulatory landscape is fragmented, fast-moving, and mandatory. EU AI Act compliance deadlines are already here (prohibited practices apply February 2025). US state laws are proliferating (Colorado's comprehensive AI Act takes effect February 2026). Industry regulators are issuing AI-specific guidance. And there's no comprehensive federal framework to simplify things.

This free guide helps CAIOs make sense of the chaos. It provides a strategic overview of the regulatory landscape, helps you identify which requirements apply to your organization, and outlines a phased approach to building your compliance program.

What's Inside

• Quick Assessment Tool: Checklist to identify which regulations apply based on geographic exposure, industry sector, and AI use cases
• Critical Compliance Timeline: Key dates from now through August 2027 including EU AI Act phases, Colorado AI Act, California requirements, and NYC Local Law 144
• EU AI Act Overview: Risk-based classification, provider vs. deployer obligations, high-risk requirements summary
• NIST AI RMF Summary: The four core functions (Govern, Map, Measure, Manage) and why this voluntary framework matters
• US State Laws Matrix: Current and upcoming requirements across NYC, Illinois, California, Colorado, and other states
• Industry-Specific Requirements: Key considerations for healthcare (HIPAA, FDA), financial services (SR 11-7, ECOA), and insurance (NAIC)
• Universal Requirements: Common capabilities required across frameworks (inventory, risk assessment, bias testing, transparency, documentation)
• Phased Compliance Program: Four-phase roadmap from foundation (months 1-3) through maturity (ongoing)
• Resource Pointers: Guide to detailed implementation checklists available to Strategic Leader members

Who This Is For

• Chief AI Officers building enterprise AI governance programs
• Compliance Officers scoping AI regulatory requirements
• Legal Counsel advising on AI compliance obligations
• AI Leaders prioritizing governance investments
• Anyone needing a strategic overview before diving into details

Why This Resource

This guide doesn't try to cover everything—it provides the strategic orientation CAIOs need before diving into detailed compliance work. It helps you answer the crucial first questions: Which regulations apply to us? What are the deadlines? Where do we start?

As a free resource, it's perfect for initial scoping and stakeholder alignment. When you're ready for detailed implementation, the premium compliance checklists provide requirement-by-requirement guidance.

FAQ

Q: Which regulations are most urgent?

A: Depends on your profile. NYC Local Law 144 (hiring AI bias audits) is already in force. EU AI Act prohibited practices apply February 2025. Colorado AI Act is the most comprehensive US law, effective February 2026. Use the quick assessment tool to identify your priorities.

Q: Do we need to comply with every regulation listed?

A: No. Requirements depend on your geographic exposure, industry, and AI use cases. An insurance company with no EU customers faces different requirements than a global tech company. The assessment tool helps identify what applies to you.

Q: How does this relate to the detailed compliance checklists?

A: This guide provides strategic orientation—which regulations matter and how to prioritize. The premium compliance checklists (EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, State Laws, Industry-Specific) provide requirement-by-requirement implementation guidance. Start with this guide to scope, then use checklists to implement.