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Introduction
Software development based on artificial intelligence is at a pivotal moment. What was once a fertile ground for almost unlimited innovation is now taking shape within the European Union under new legal frameworks. First came the enforcement of the AI Act in 2024, and since August 2, 2025, the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI Models has also come into effect.
The European AI regulation is transforming how we conceive, design, and implement AI-powered technologies. For those of us working in software development, this new regulatory environment imposes clear obligations—but it also opens up strategic opportunities that are worth embracing.
In this article, we explore how this regulation affects software development, what the activation of the Code of Practice means in practice, and how companies can adapt to implement AI solutions ethically, securely, and competitively within the European market.
Europe strengthens its regulatory model
With the enforcement of the AI Act in 2024, Europe became the first major power to comprehensively legislate the use of artificial intelligence. The regulation classifies AI systems according to their risk level and imposes specific requirements in terms of transparency, traceability, human oversight, and protection of fundamental rights.
Since August 2, 2025, the Code of Practice for general purpose AI models (such as GPT‑4 or Gemini) has also been applied. This voluntary guide is already backed by tech giants like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
The code offers clear guidance for developers to proactively comply with the obligations of the AI Act, particularly regarding foundational models like GPT-4, Gemini, Claude, or Mistral.
It is structured around four core principles:
Transparency (dataset documentation, model explainability),
Safety and governance (risk mitigation and oversight processes),
Copyright and AI-generated content,
And collaboration with independent researchers and auditors.
One of the most relevant innovations is the distinction between model providers and implementers—those who adapt or integrate models into real-world applications. This distinction allows responsibilities to be distributed and commitments to be tailored to each actor’s role in the AI value chain.
Additionally, the code introduces recommended practices such as labeling AI-generated content, monitoring malicious model usage, and disclosing key technical information without revealing trade secrets. It also encourages signatory companies to engage in voluntary audits and share best practices with the research community.
The European Commission presents the Code as a tool to build trust, accelerate regulatory alignment, and ensure that technological development reflects democratic values.
For those of us building technology…
For technical teams, this marks a turning point. Any company developing, integrating, or marketing AI systems in the European Union must now understand that compliance with the European AI regulation is a market requirement.
This translates into very concrete practices:
Creating clear, traceable, and accessible technical documentation.
Properly labeling all automatically generated content.
Implementing internal systems for quality control, security, and accountability.
Establishing procedures for users to challenge or appeal automated decisions.
Beyond legal compliance, all of this reinforces product robustness and improves the user relationship. Rather than a burden, the regulation can be an opportunity to professionalize processes, anticipate risks, and deliver more valuable solutions.
Moreover, companies adhering to the Code of Practice send a strong message to the market: they are ready to build technology with ethical and technical guarantees. This brings competitive advantage, stronger reputation, and a solid foundation for scaling.
It also opens up demand for new hybrid roles: legaltech experts, model auditors, traceability designers, and algorithmic ethics specialists. Software development is becoming a more cross-functional, collaborative, and critical discipline.
Conclusion
The European AI regulation, reinforced by the newly enacted Code of Practice, is set to have a direct impact on development processes.
Far from stifling innovation, this framework fosters a new technological culture based on responsibility, transparency, and safety. For companies like Unimedia Technology, it is a unique opportunity to lead with intention, stay ahead of the curve, and build more reliable, robust, and compliant AI solutions for the European market.
