The Advisory Forum: What Is It And How Does It Work?
The Advisory Forum (the Forum) is a general advisory body to the European Commission and the AI Board, established to provide technical expertise, advise them, and to contribute to their tasks under the EU AI Act. It sits within the Act’s broader governance architecture, as one of the two advisory bodies, in addition to the […]
What this rule actually says
The EU created an "Advisory Forum"—basically a committee of experts—to give technical advice to EU regulators about how the AI Act should actually work in practice. This Forum doesn't make rules, but it helps the European Commission and AI Board understand what's technically feasible and what problems are emerging as companies deploy AI systems. Think of it as a translator between regulators and the real world of AI builders.
Who it applies to
Direct application (you probably don't need to do anything here):
- This rule applies *to EU regulators*, not to companies. You are not required to join or report to the Advisory Forum.
Indirect application (monitor this):
- If you operate in the EU and build high-risk AI systems (medical scribes, hiring assistants, automated decision-making): The Forum will influence how regulators *interpret and enforce* the EU AI Act against you. Positions the Forum takes may eventually shape compliance requirements.
- If you're outside the EU but sell to EU customers: Same logic applies—the Forum's advice affects the regulatory environment you operate in.
- If you use consumer data or workplace data: The Forum may weigh in on data handling rules, bias testing, and transparency requirements. This could affect what you're required to document or disclose.
Geographic scope:
- This rule is EU-specific. It doesn't directly affect founders in the US, UK, or elsewhere—unless you have EU users or customers.
AI use cases in scope:
- The Forum advises on *all* AI Act compliance, so theoretically all your AI products could be affected as the Forum's guidance evolves.
What founders need to do
- Bookmark the EU AI Act's official guidance page (1-2 hours): Check it quarterly for Advisory Forum opinions that relate to your product category. The Forum will publish guidance over time.
- If you're in the EU or sell to EU customers, review the current AI Act high-risk system list (2-4 hours): Understand which of your products fall under "high-risk" classification—this determines enforcement intensity.
- Join an industry association or peer group (ongoing): Participate in founder networks discussing EU AI compliance. The Forum's decisions will ripple through your industry faster if you're plugged in.
- Plan for evolving rules (ongoing): The Forum's advice will likely tighten compliance expectations over 2-3 years. Budget for compliance updates to documentation, testing, and transparency features.
Bottom line
Monitor but don't panic—this is a regulator-to-regulator rule, but the Advisory Forum's guidance will eventually tighten what compliance means for you if you operate in the EU.