AI Compliance Checklist - Public Overview

Overview

AI compliance isn't a future concern—it's a current requirement. Organizations deploying AI face regulations from the EU, federal agencies, state governments, and industry-specific regulators. Non-compliance consequences are severe: multi-million dollar fines, forced shutdown of AI systems, executive criminal liability, class action lawsuits, and competitive disadvantage.

This free overview introduces the AI regulatory landscape. It explains what regulations apply, what they require, and what's at stake—giving you the foundation to understand your compliance obligations.

What's Inside

• The Compliance Reality: Current enforcement landscape including EU AI Act penalties, GDPR enforcement, and sector-specific consequences
• Global Regulations Overview: EU AI Act (risk-based approach, unacceptable/high/medium/low risk categories), GDPR AI requirements, and other international frameworks
• US Regulatory Landscape: Federal regulations (FTC Act, EEOC guidance, sectoral laws) and state-level AI legislation (California, Colorado, Virginia, and emerging laws)
• Sector-Specific Requirements: Healthcare (HIPAA, FDA), Financial Services (FCRA, ECOA, SR 11-7), Employment (EEOC, state laws)
• Non-Compliance Consequences: Regulatory fines, operational shutdowns, legal liability, reputational damage, and market access loss
• Compliance Benefits: Faster deployment, enterprise contract wins, avoided retrofitting costs, stakeholder trust

Who This Is For

• Executives understanding AI compliance obligations
• Legal/Compliance Teams assessing regulatory requirements
• AI/Technology Leaders planning compliant AI deployment
• Risk Officers evaluating regulatory exposure
• Anyone seeking an introduction to AI regulations

Why This Resource

The AI regulatory landscape is complex and evolving. This overview provides a clear starting point—explaining what regulations exist and why they matter—before you dive into detailed compliance requirements.

It's designed as education and risk communication: help your organization understand what AI compliance involves and what's at stake if you get it wrong.

FAQ

Q: What's the biggest compliance risk for most organizations?

A: For organizations with EU presence or customers, the EU AI Act is the most comprehensive risk. For US organizations, the combination of sector-specific regulations (healthcare, finance) and state privacy laws creates complexity. The overview helps you identify which regulations apply to your situation.

Q: Is this checklist enough for compliance?

A: This overview provides conceptual foundation. For detailed compliance requirements including specific controls, documentation, and audit preparation, see our industry-specific premium compliance checklists.

Q: When do EU AI Act requirements take effect?

A: The EU AI Act phases in between 2024-2027. Prohibited practices take effect first, followed by high-risk AI requirements. The overview covers the timeline and key milestones.