AI Act vs China GenAI: what they share and how they differ
AI Act and China GenAI share 9 of 24 control themes and 5 checks. 67% of China GenAI requirements can be proven with checks AI Act already uses, 18% the other way round.
Phasing in
AI Act
How to make an AI system compliant with the EU AI Act
33 requirementsNext Aug 2, 2027
In force
China GenAI
How to comply with China's generative AI rules
6 requirementsNext 2027
9/24shared control themes
5shared checks
67%of China GenAI requirements covered by AI Act evidence
18%of AI Act requirements covered by China GenAI evidence
At a glance
| AI Act | China GenAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | European Union | China |
| Kind | Regulation | Implementing rules |
| Status | Phasing in | In force |
| Binding | Yes same | Yes same |
| Object analysed | AI system same | AI system same |
| Scope | Providers, deployers, importers and distributors of AI systems; providers of GPAI models. | Providers of generative AI, deep synthesis or recommendation services to the public in China. |
| Territorial reach | Extraterritorial: applies when the system is placed on the EU market or its output is used in the EU. | Services available to the public in mainland China. |
| Penalties | Up to €35M or 7% of worldwide turnover (prohibited practices); €15M or 3% (other obligations); €7.5M or 1% (incorrect information). | Penalties under the cybersecurity, data and PIPL laws; service suspension. |
| Qualification axes | AI Act risk level, Organisation role, General-purpose model | Service type |
| Roles | Provider, Deployer, GPAI provider | Service provider |
| Requirements | 33 | 6 |
| Next milestone | Aug 2, 2027, Annex I high risk (regulated products); GPAI placed on the market before Aug 2025 | 2027, Comprehensive AI Law (State Council legislative plan) |
Theme by theme
requirements per theme
AI ActChina GenAI
Governance
Assessment
Build
People & use
Lifecycle & third parties
What they share: one piece of evidence, two frameworks
5
| Code | Check | Requirements AI Act | Requirements China GenAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| VER-004-01 | Documented data governance (collection process, bias, quality) | ||
| VER-009-02 | Accuracy and robustness verified and documented | ||
| VER-018-D-03 | AI-generated content marked as such | ||
| VER-021-D-03 | Operation monitoring | ||
| VER-031-G-03 | Documented copyright compliance policy |
Differences: requirements specific to each framework
Requirements with no check serving the other framework: the extra work.
AI Act
27
EX-001
AI literacy Art. 4
EX-002
Prohibited practices Art. 5
EX-003
Risk management Art. 9
EX-005
Technical documentation Art. 11 + Annexe IV
EX-006
Record-keeping / logging Art. 12
EX-007
Transparency to deployers Art. 13
EX-008
Human oversight Art. 14
EX-010
QMS Art. 17
EX-011
10-year retention Art. 18
EX-012
Automatically generated logs Art. 19
EX-013
Corrective actions Art. 20
EX-014
Cooperation with authorities Art. 21 + Art. 26§12
EX-015
EU declaration of conformity Art. 47
EX-016
CE marking Art. 48
EX-017
EU database registration Art. 49
EX-019
DPIA Art. 26§9
EX-020
FRIA Art. 27
EX-023
Accessibility Art. 16(l)
EX-024
Conformity assessment Art. 43
EX-025
EX-026
Value chain Art. 25
EX-027
Compliant use Art. 26§1
EX-028
Input data Art. 26§4
EX-029
Information to affected persons Art. 26§11
EX-030
Information to workers' representatives Art. 26§7
EX-032
EX-033
China GenAI
2
CN-01
Algorithm filing with the CAC Recommendation Art. 24
CN-06
User protection: minors, complaints, reporting GenAI Art. 10, 15
Timelines
PastSet in the textPotentialTo verify
Apr 21, 2021AI Act · Commission proposal
Mar 1, 2022China GenAI · Algorithmic recommendation provisions
Jan 10, 2023China GenAI · Deep synthesis provisions
Aug 15, 2023China GenAI · Interim measures on generative AI
Jul 12, 2024AI Act · Published in the Official Journal
Aug 1, 2024AI Act · Entry into force
Feb 2, 2025AI Act · Prohibited practices (Art. 5) and AI literacy (Art. 4)
Jul 10, 2025AI Act · GPAI Code of Practice published
Aug 2, 2025AI Act · GPAI obligations, governance, penalties, notified bodies
Sep 1, 2025China GenAI · Labelling measures and GB 45438-2025 standard
Nov 19, 2025AI Act · Digital Omnibus proposal: high-risk delay tied to standards
Jan 1, 2026China GenAI · Amended Cybersecurity Law with AI provisions
Aug 2, 2026AI Act · General application: Art. 50, sandboxes, Annex III high risk (unless Omnibus delay)
2027China GenAI · Comprehensive AI Law (State Council legislative plan)
Aug 2, 2027AI Act · Annex I high risk (regulated products); GPAI placed on the market before Aug 2025
Dec 2, 2027AI Act · Omnibus backstop for Annex III high risk
Aug 2, 2028AI Act · Omnibus backstop for Annex I high risk
Aug 2, 2030AI Act · High-risk systems of public authorities already in service (Art. 111)
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