What the European AI law asks of you from August 2, 2026 — and what ChatME meets for you by default (always-on AI disclosure, WhatsApp and Instagram included).
# The EU AI Act and your chatbot: what the law asks (and what ChatME does for you)
The European AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) applies generally from August 2, 2026. If a chatbot talks to your customers, it affects you — but the good news is short: with ChatME, the key obligation is already met by default.
What the law says about chatbots
The Regulation classifies AI systems by risk. A customer-facing chatbot like yours is a limited-risk system: not prohibited, not high-risk, but subject to a transparency obligation (Article 50):
People must be made aware that they are interacting with a machine, so they can take an informed decision.
In other words: your chatbot has to identify itself as AI to your customers.
What ChatME does for you (zero configuration)
Always-on AI disclosure in the widget. Every ChatME chatbot shows an "AI" indicator in the header and a notice at the start of the conversation ("You're chatting with an AI assistant…"). It cannot be switched off: you comply by default.
On WhatsApp and Instagram too. Messaging channels have no widget header, so the first reply of every conversation automatically identifies itself as an AI assistant.
On your shared chat page. Your direct link (app.chatme.es/c/your-business) uses the same widget, with the same notices.
Clear roles. For the purposes of the Regulation, ChatMe OÜ is the provider of the system and you are the deployer. It's spelled out in our terms.
What's on you (little, but important)
Don't remove or hide the AI notices. They're built in precisely so you comply; removing them breaches the Regulation and our terms.
Use the assistant for what it is. Informing, capturing customers and managing appointments — yes. High-risk decisions — no: the Regulation forbids using systems like this to decide credit, hiring, education admissions or medical diagnoses. Your assistant can *inform* about those topics; the *decision* always belongs to a professional.
Keep your content up to date. The assistant answers from the information you give it (your website, your documents). Keeping it truthful and current is part of using AI responsibly — and since February 2025 the Regulation also expects basic "AI literacy": whoever works with the system should understand what it does and doesn't do.
And the fines?
The Regulation carries serious penalties: up to €35M or 7% of global turnover for prohibited practices, and up to €15M or 3% for other infringements. For a small business on ChatME, the way to never think about this is simple: leave the notices as they are and use the assistant for support, lead capture and appointments.