DepthThe conclusion and your first steps
Direct answer
Is the ALTAI / trustworthy AI assessment mandatory under the AI Act?
You describe: You know the Assessment List for Trustworthy AI and wonder how it relates to the legal duties. Likely role: provider and deployer alike.
This applies now
- Article 4: AI literacyApplicable
Coming up
- Annex III: high-risk AIfrom 2 December 2027
The ALTAI from the High-Level Expert Group is a voluntary self-assessment instrument, not a legal duty. It remains useful as a thinking framework and training material, but it does not replace an Article 5 screening, classification or FRIA. Use it as a tool within your Article 4 measures, not as proof of legal compliance.
Your first actions
- Take role- and context-specific AI literacy measures. Determine for each role, system and context which combination of instruction, guidance, practice or training is appropriate.
- Justify the Article 6(3) exception against each individual condition. Name which of the four Article 6(3) conditions you invoke, with facts, and separately justify why the system poses no significant risk of harm to health, safety or fundamental rights and does not materially influence the outcome of decision making.
General interpretation, not legal advice. Checked against Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 and the Digital Omnibus (EU) 2026/1744; the official source remains authoritative.
Full map for your situation