Glossary
Risk-Based Regulation
A regulatory design that scales legal duties according to estimated severity and likelihood of harm.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22
In plain language
Risk-based AI regulation, exemplified by the EU AI Act’s pyramid of prohibited, high-risk, limited-risk and minimal-risk uses, tries to focus obligations where harm potential is greater. Challenges include classifying systems, measuring risk across contexts, and avoiding under-regulation of cumulative or novel harms. Risk categories are policy choices, not purely technical facts.
Why it matters for AI governance
Many jurisdictions copy or debate the risk-based template. Understanding its strengths and blind spots is central to comparative AI law.
Authoritative sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act) (opens in a new tab) — European Union