European Commission Initiates First Formal AI Act Investigations

The European Commission has officially begun using its new investigatory powers under the EU AI Act to oversee the development of general-purpose artificial intelligence. On August 29, 2026, the commission's AI Office issued its first formal requests for information to various providers of large-scale AI models. These actions mark a significant step in the enforcement of the landmark legislation that became applicable to model providers earlier that month. The move aims to ensure that companies are meeting their legal obligations regarding transparency and safety standards. Officials are focusing on how these powerful systems are built and what data is used to train them. The European Commission has not publicly named the specific companies receiving these inquiries at this time. However, the requests were sent to more than 30 organizations that have not yet provided detailed summaries of their training content. These companies also had not participated in previous informal compliance dialogues with the AI Office. Henna Virkkunen, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, has been leading the push for these oversight measures. The inquiries are divided into two broad categories to address different aspects of model governance. One category focuses on the technical transparency of the models, while the other addresses copyright compliance. By requiring this information, the commission intends to create a clearer picture of how general-purpose AI models function within the European market. This regulatory effort is part of a broader global trend where governments are seeking to balance technological innovation with public safety. While some industry leaders have called for international cooperation on AI policy, the European Union is moving forward with its own binding framework. The outcome of these investigations could set a precedent for how other jurisdictions approach AI oversight in the coming years. Companies that fail to comply with these requests may face further scrutiny or potential penalties under the established rules of the AI Act. As the AI Office continues its work, the industry is watching closely to see how these transparency requirements will influence future model development and deployment strategies.