EU AI Act Deadline August 2026: What SMBs Need to Do Now

Five months. That's roughly how long you have until the EU AI Act's high-risk compliance deadline on August 2, 2026. If you're running a small or medium-sized SaaS company with AI features and European customers, this deadline should be on your radar. Even if you've heard rumors about a possible extension, the legal reality is nuanced - and urgent - than the headlines suggest. This article gives you the full picture: what's already in force, what's coming, what the Digital Omnibus actually says, and a concrete 5-month plan to get your house in order.