What is required of importers and distributors of high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act?

Importers and distributors of high-risk AI systems are required to comply with conformity assessments under the EU AI Act. This means they must ensure that the AI systems they are placing on the market meet specific regulatory requirements and standards that have been established for high-risk categories of AI.

Conformity assessments are critical because they involve a thorough evaluation and verification process to confirm that the AI systems are safe, reliable, and perform as intended while respecting fundamental rights. This compliance helps to assure both the public and regulators that these high-risk AI systems do not pose significant harm and are in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

Other options, while relevant to AI deployment in a general sense, do not capture the specific regulatory obligation outlined in the EU AI Act for importers and distributors of high-risk AI systems. For example, free distribution of AI systems is not a requirement and doesn’t align with accountability principles. Public testing could be part of a developmental phase but is not mandated for importers or distributors specifically as a regulatory task. Modification of AI algorithms is more of a technical responsibility that may arise from compliance needs but is not a direct requirement under the Act for importers and distributors.