On 7 May 2026, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the EU AI Act Digital Omnibus — the first significant amendment to the Act since it became law in August 2024. For UK and EU businesses working toward EU AI Act compliance, this changes the timeline significantly. But it does not change the need to prepare. Here is exactly what moved, what stayed, and what you must do now.
What Is the EU AI Act Digital Omnibus?
The Digital Omnibus is an amendment to the EU AI Act agreed by the European Parliament and Council on 7 May 2026. It adjusts several key deadlines and adds new provisions — most importantly extending the Annex III high-risk AI deadline from August 2026 to December 2027, giving organisations an additional 16 months to achieve compliance.
The Complete Updated Compliance Timeline
The Omnibus changes the following key deadlines: Article 5 prohibited AI practices have been active since February 2025 and are unchanged. Article 50(1) AI content disclosure obligations apply from 2 August 2026 — this deadline did not move. Article 50(2) watermarking requirements moved to 2 December 2026. Annex III high-risk AI systems (covering HR, credit, biometrics, education and more) moved to 2 December 2027. Annex I product-embedded AI moved to 2 August 2028.
What Has NOT Changed — The August 2026 Obligations
The most important obligation that was NOT delayed is Article 50(1). If your organisation uses AI to generate content that interacts with individuals — chatbots, AI-written marketing copy, customer service responses — you must disclose this from 2 August 2026. Article 4 AI literacy obligations have also been in force since February 2025. These deadlines did not move and require action now.
What This Means for UK Businesses With EU Customers
UK businesses are not exempt from the EU AI Act. If your organisation provides AI-powered products or services to customers in the EU, or uses AI systems that affect EU individuals, you are in scope. Post-Brexit UK companies are among the most exposed — they often lack the internal EU regulatory expertise that continental businesses have developed. The December 2027 deadline gives you 18 months. The work takes 12 to 18 months. You need to start now.
Your 5 Priority Actions Right Now
Assess your Article 50 position immediately — if you use AI in any customer-facing content, you need a disclosure policy before August 2026. 2. Build your AI system inventory — you cannot govern what you have not catalogued. 3. Check your Article 4 AI literacy compliance — this obligation has been active since February 2025. 4. Scope your Annex III exposure — identify which of your AI systems fall into high-risk categories. 5. Start your December 2027 compliance programme now — 18 months sounds like a long time. It is not.
How Wishory Can Help
Wishory offers a Digital Omnibus Navigator Briefing — a focused 2-hour session where we map exactly which obligations apply to your business, which deadlines are active now, and what your priority actions are. From £350. Book a free 30-minute discovery call at wishory.com/book to discuss your position.