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Data has become increasingly important in everyday business. Let our experts help you in navigating the complex regulatory framework around data.

The rise of AI fuels productivity and introduces new risks to control and mitigate

AI technology is becoming increasingly relevant for companies regardless of their field. AI is making its way to the desks of everyone through integrations to the most popular office applications. New applications and tools using AI are born by the hundreds each month. As AI unlocks new potential and turbocharges productivity, it is very attractive to companies seeking to develop their business. To be able to fully take advantage of the obvious benefits of AI in a sustainable way, attention to the legal side of things is imperative. 

Let Fondia guide you in your journey with AI

We want to help you ensure compliance in the field of AI and to utilize AI in a smart and efficient manner. We have therefore assembled a team of lawyers with experience from the fields of tech, privacy and intellectual property who will help you navigate the field of AI in a smart and compliant way. Our lawyers are happy to assist you in assessing the legal implications of AI usage in your company and defining the actions needed to remain compliant and mitigate legal and business risks. 

We’ll be there to advise you on AI –related issues:

  • Creating practical instructions for employees on how to use generative AI tools

  • Organizing "Management Team Workshops" about the potential of AI technology and the risks to consider

  • Help at every stage of AI technology procurement, from comparing options to procurement and deployment

  • Conducting contract reviews and draft terms of use for AI-powered products and services

  • Conducting data protection impact assessment (DPIA) procedures for AI in line with GDPR requirements

  • Support in HR procedures required by employment legislation in AI-related change situations

  • Training employees on AI related legal requirements and practicalities

  • Clarifying intellectual property issues related to AI

Background and current status on the AI Act

The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) will apply from 2 August 2026, two years after its entry into force. However, for some obligations, the regulation will already apply from 2025. The implications of the AI Act are, nevertheless, already relevant to consider for any business working or planning to work with AI. Being the first comprehensive attempt to regulate AI technology, the AI Act will potentially have major ramifications on the AI landscape globally.

The AI act will start to apply approximately two years after the European Parliament and the European Council agree on a final version of the Act. But the implications of the Act are already relevant to consider for any company which is working with or planning to work with AI.

Who will be affected by the AI Act?

The Act will affect providers and deployers of AI systems within the EU. The Act will also affect providers and deployers in third countries if the output produced by the AI system is used in the EU. Anyone importing and/or distributing AI systems may also be affected. Obligations will be placed on each actor with consideration to their sphere of control. Providers will bear far more extensive obligations, such as establishing risk management systems, designing the system to enable human oversight and training the AI in accordance with certain principles. Deployers will for example need to monitor their own use of the AI system and notify providers if they identify that their use of the AI system presents a risk, if they identify serious incidents or if they identify malfunctioning.

Obligations will pertain mainly to high-risk AI systems, but special obligations will also pertain to AI systems intended to interact with natural persons, emotion recognition systems and biometric categorisation systems, and AI systems used to generate or manipulate image, audio or video content. Some AI systems will be prohibited altogether.

What can you do in anticipation of the AI Act?

Preparation is key to ensuring compliance with the AI Act. We have some tips on what we think is important to do in anticipation of the AI Act.

  • Familiarize yourself with the text of the Act. This is key to prepare for the effects of it and for understanding any news on it.

  • Find a source of updates on the topic. You can follow the official information on the process here, or find a news source which reports on developments. We naturally recommend the Fondia newsletter, which reports on all major developments of the process together with other legal news.

  • Assess how the AI systems you use, provide or develop fit into the proposed text of the Act. Would they be considered high-risk, prohibited or otherwise in scope of the Act?

  • Consider the different legal obligations which already apply to AI and ensure compliance with those. For example obligations relating to privacy (GDPR) or intellectual property.

  • In both new and ongoing development projects relating to AI, consider the impact of the Act on the project and make sure to prepare for compliance with the Act already at the development stage. For example by ensuring the AI is designed to enable compliance with requirements on transparency, human oversight and log-keeping.

At Fondia we have an enthusiastic team of lawyers in Estonia, Finland, Lithuania and Sweden who are happy to assist you in your AI-related endeavors. Feel free to reach out to us!

Finland: Arttu Ruukki and Jukka Jäske.

Sweden: Hanna Kaspers, Amir Hajdarevic, Mathilde Lecomte and Nathalie Grogan.

Lithuania: Katerina Jarmolovičienė

Estonia: Kätlin Hinnov

Topical blogs from our experts on AI:

Lawyer's tips for adopting technology and AI

Background and current status on the AI Act

The Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) will apply from 2 August 2026, two years after its entry into force. However, for some obligations, the regulation will already apply from 2025. The implications of the AI Act are, nevertheless, already relevant to consider for any business working or planning to work with AI. Being the first comprehensive attempt to regulate AI technology, the AI Act will potentially have major ramifications on the AI landscape globally.

The AI act will start to apply approximately two years after the European Parliament and the European Council agree on a final version of the Act. But the implications of the Act are already relevant to consider for any company which is working with or planning to work with AI.

Who will be affected by the AI Act?

The Act will affect providers and deployers of AI systems within the EU. The Act will also affect providers and deployers in third countries if the output produced by the AI system is used in the EU. Anyone importing and/or distributing AI systems may also be affected. Obligations will be placed on each actor with consideration to their sphere of control. Providers will bear far more extensive obligations, such as establishing risk management systems, designing the system to enable human oversight and training the AI in accordance with certain principles. Deployers will for example need to monitor their own use of the AI system and notify providers if they identify that their use of the AI system presents a risk, if they identify serious incidents or if they identify malfunctioning.

Obligations will pertain mainly to high-risk AI systems, but special obligations will also pertain to AI systems intended to interact with natural persons, emotion recognition systems and biometric categorisation systems, and AI systems used to generate or manipulate image, audio or video content. Some AI systems will be prohibited altogether.

What can you do in anticipation of the AI Act?

Preparation is key to ensuring compliance with the AI Act. We have some tips on what we think is important to do in anticipation of the AI Act.

  • Familiarize yourself with the text of the Act. This is key to prepare for the effects of it and for understanding any news on it.

  • Find a source of updates on the topic. You can follow the official information on the process here, or find a news source which reports on developments. We naturally recommend the Fondia newsletter, which reports on all major developments of the process together with other legal news.

  • Assess how the AI systems you use, provide or develop fit into the proposed text of the Act. Would they be considered high-risk, prohibited or otherwise in scope of the Act?

  • Consider the different legal obligations which already apply to AI and ensure compliance with those. For example obligations relating to privacy (GDPR) or intellectual property.

  • In both new and ongoing development projects relating to AI, consider the impact of the Act on the project and make sure to prepare for compliance with the Act already at the development stage. For example by ensuring the AI is designed to enable compliance with requirements on transparency, human oversight and log-keeping.

At Fondia we have an enthusiastic team of lawyers in Estonia, Finland, Lithuania and Sweden who are happy to assist you in your AI-related endeavors. Feel free to reach out to us!

Finland: Arttu Ruukki and Jukka Jäske.

Sweden: Hanna Kaspers, Amir Hajdarevic, Mathilde Lecomte and Nathalie Grogan.

Lithuania: Katerina Jarmolovičienė

Estonia: Kätlin Hinnov

Topical blogs from our experts on AI:

Lawyer's tips for adopting technology and AI

Our AI experts

Our experts are here to help you in navigating the complex regulatory framework around AI. Learn more about our AI experts or contact them directly!

Arttu Ruukki
Arttu Ruukki
Senior Legal Counsel, AI and Data Economy Lead
Susanna Halmela
Susanna Halmela
Senior Legal Counsel
Roman Beletski
Roman Beletski
Legal Counsel & Technologist
Katerina Jarmolovičienė
Katerina Jarmolovičienė
Senior Legal Counsel
Amir Hajdarevic
Amir Hajdarevic
Senior Legal Counsel
Mathilde Lecomte
Mathilde Lecomte
Senior Legal Counsel
Nathalie Grogan
Nathalie Grogan
Senior Legal Counsel
Hanna Kaspers
Hanna Kaspers
Senior Legal Counsel

Arttu Ruukki, Henna Tolvanen, Nelly Nurmenniemi and Ulla Hirvelä have written Artificial Intelligence -chapter to the Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides.

The Legal 500’s Country Comparative Guides are produced in association with the world’s leading lawyers giving a practical overview of the laws and regulations in key jurisdictions, for specific practice areas.

Latest blogs on Data and AI

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