[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":413},["ShallowReactive",2],{"navigation-docs_en":3,"/en/blog/eu-ai-act-microsoft-copilot-smes-august-2026-posts_en":51,"/en/blog/eu-ai-act-microsoft-copilot-smes-august-2026-surround-posts_en":402},[4],{"title":5,"path":6,"stem":7,"children":8,"page":25},"En","/en","en",[9],{"title":10,"path":11,"stem":12,"children":13,"page":25},"Docs","/en/docs","en/1.docs",[14,26],{"title":15,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":18,"icon":25},"Getting Started","/en/docs/getting-started","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/1.index",[19,21],{"title":20,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":-1},"Introduction",{"title":22,"path":23,"stem":24,"children":-1},"Migration Roadmap","/en/docs/getting-started/migration-fahrplan","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/2.migration-fahrplan",false,{"title":27,"path":28,"stem":29,"children":30,"page":25},"Technologies","/en/docs/technologies","en/1.docs/2.technologies",[31,35,39,43,47],{"title":32,"path":33,"stem":34,"children":-1},"Nextcloud","/en/docs/technologies/nextcloud","en/1.docs/2.technologies/1.nextcloud",{"title":36,"path":37,"stem":38,"children":-1},"Matrix / Element","/en/docs/technologies/matrix","en/1.docs/2.technologies/2.matrix",{"title":40,"path":41,"stem":42,"children":-1},"ONLYOFFICE","/en/docs/technologies/onlyoffice","en/1.docs/2.technologies/3.onlyoffice",{"title":44,"path":45,"stem":46,"children":-1},"Ubuntu Linux","/en/docs/technologies/ubuntu","en/1.docs/2.technologies/4.ubuntu",{"title":48,"path":49,"stem":50,"children":-1},"Keycloak","/en/docs/technologies/keycloak","en/1.docs/2.technologies/5.keycloak",{"id":52,"title":53,"authors":54,"badge":60,"body":62,"date":364,"description":365,"extension":366,"faq":367,"howto":377,"image":394,"meta":396,"navigation":397,"path":398,"seo":399,"stem":400,"__hash__":401},"posts_en/en/3.blog/18.eu-ai-act-microsoft-copilot-smes-august-2026.md","The EU AI Act for Small Businesses – Using AI at Work, Relaxed",[55],{"name":56,"to":57,"avatar":58},"Michael Wolf","/en/about",{"src":59},"/michael.webp",{"label":61},"Guide",{"type":63,"value":64,"toc":352},"minimark",[65,69,78,83,90,157,160,164,175,191,194,198,218,222,249,253,272,276,279,305,308,312,332,336,345],[66,67,53],"h1",{"id":68},"the-eu-ai-act-for-small-businesses-using-ai-at-work-relaxed",[70,71,72,73,77],"p",{},"AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT or open models have arrived in everyday office life. At the same time, the ",[74,75,76],"strong",{},"EU AI Act"," introduces uniform rules for artificial intelligence in Europe for the first time. Sounds like a lot of bureaucracy? For most small businesses it's manageable. Here's what it's about.",[79,80,82],"h2",{"id":81},"the-ai-act-in-brief","The AI Act in brief",[70,84,85,86,89],{},"The AI Act is an EU regulation that entered into force in 2024. Its rules take effect ",[74,87,88],{},"step by step",". The basic idea: the higher the risk of an AI application, the stricter the requirements.",[91,92,93,109],"table",{},[94,95,96],"thead",{},[97,98,99,103,106],"tr",{},[100,101,102],"th",{},"Risk level",[100,104,105],{},"Examples",[100,107,108],{},"What applies",[110,111,112,124,135,146],"tbody",{},[97,113,114,118,121],{},[115,116,117],"td",{},"Unacceptable risk",[115,119,120],{},"certain forms of manipulation",[115,122,123],{},"prohibited",[97,125,126,129,132],{},[115,127,128],{},"High risk",[115,130,131],{},"AI in decisions about people in sensitive areas",[115,133,134],{},"strict requirements",[97,136,137,140,143],{},[115,138,139],{},"Limited risk",[115,141,142],{},"chatbots, AI-generated content",[115,144,145],{},"transparency obligations",[97,147,148,151,154],{},[115,149,150],{},"Minimal risk",[115,152,153],{},"spell checkers, text suggestions",[115,155,156],{},"hardly any rules",[70,158,159],{},"Typical office tasks – drafting texts, summarising emails, brainstorming – are usually at the lower end.",[79,161,163],{"id":162},"who-has-to-do-what","Who has to do what?",[70,165,166,167,170,171,174],{},"The AI Act distinguishes between ",[74,168,169],{},"providers",", who develop AI systems, and ",[74,172,173],{},"deployers",", who use them. Most obligations are on the providers. For businesses that use AI, two points are especially relevant:",[176,177,178,185],"ul",{},[179,180,181,184],"li",{},[74,182,183],{},"AI literacy:"," Your team should know how the tools work, where their limits are and what to watch out for.",[179,186,187,190],{},[74,188,189],{},"Transparency:"," In certain cases it should be clear that content was created with AI or that someone is talking to an AI.",[70,192,193],{},"For the exact obligations in your case, please talk to a legal adviser – I'll support you with the practical side.",[79,195,197],{"id":196},"a-few-terms-briefly-explained","A few terms, briefly explained",[176,199,200,206,212],{},[179,201,202,205],{},[74,203,204],{},"AI system:"," Software that generates outputs like texts, suggestions or decisions from inputs.",[179,207,208,211],{},[74,209,210],{},"General-purpose AI (GPAI):"," Large models that can be used for lots of different tasks.",[179,213,214,217],{},[74,215,216],{},"Deployer:"," Whoever uses an AI system in their own business.",[79,219,221],{"id":220},"practical-tips-for-everyday-use","Practical tips for everyday use",[223,224,225,231,237,243],"ol",{},[179,226,227,230],{},[74,228,229],{},"Short training:"," Spend an hour trying things out together and talking about strengths and limits.",[179,232,233,236],{},[74,234,235],{},"Check results:"," AI can be wrong. Always double-check important texts and numbers.",[179,238,239,242],{},[74,240,241],{},"Protect sensitive data:"," Don't enter health, client or HR data without a clear basis.",[179,244,245,248],{},[74,246,247],{},"Document briefly:"," One page is enough: which tools, what for, with which rules.",[79,250,252],{"id":251},"the-open-option-ai-on-your-own-server","The open option: AI on your own server",[70,254,255,256,259,260,263,264,267,268,271],{},"If you handle sensitive data, a local AI is a nice option. With open models and tools like ",[74,257,258],{},"Ollama",", ",[74,261,262],{},"Open WebUI"," or the ",[74,265,266],{},"Nextcloud Assistant",", the assistant runs on your own hardware. Your data then doesn't leave your premises. With me, a ",[74,269,270],{},"local AI"," is in the works for this.",[79,273,275],{"id":274},"an-example-from-a-small-agency","An example from a small agency",[70,277,278],{},"An advertising agency with six people uses AI for text drafts and ideas. In one hour, it goes through the main points:",[223,280,281,287,293,299],{},[179,282,283,286],{},[74,284,285],{},"Which tools?"," A chat assistant for texts and an image generator for first sketches.",[179,288,289,292],{},[74,290,291],{},"What's allowed?"," General texts, ideas, drafts. No client data from confidential projects.",[179,294,295,298],{},[74,296,297],{},"How are results checked?"," Every text gets a second pair of eyes before publication.",[179,300,301,304],{},[74,302,303],{},"How is it labelled?"," Where necessary, it's made clear that content was created with AI.",[70,306,307],{},"The result fits on one page and is reviewed once a year. The team feels more confident – and uses the tools more relaxed than before.",[79,309,311],{"id":310},"common-misconceptions","Common misconceptions",[176,313,314,320,326],{},[179,315,316,319],{},[74,317,318],{},"\"We have to get every AI use approved.\""," For typical office uses, that's generally not the case.",[179,321,322,325],{},[74,323,324],{},"\"Local AI is always worse.\""," For many everyday tasks, open models deliver very good results.",[179,327,328,331],{},[74,329,330],{},"\"The AI Act bans ChatGPT and friends.\""," No. It sets rules, mainly for providers and for particularly risky uses.",[79,333,335],{"id":334},"conclusion","Conclusion",[70,337,338,339,344],{},"The AI Act sets clear ground rules – and for small businesses the effort is manageable. With a bit of know-how in the team, a few simple rules and tools that suit you, you can use AI with peace of mind. I also offer a joint introduction to AI tools as a ",[340,341,343],"a",{"href":342},"/en/training","workshop",".",[70,346,347,348,344],{},"If you'd like to give it a try, I'm happy to help – ",[340,349,351],{"href":350},"/en/contact","just drop me a line",{"title":353,"searchDepth":354,"depth":354,"links":355},"",2,[356,357,358,359,360,361,362,363],{"id":81,"depth":354,"text":82},{"id":162,"depth":354,"text":163},{"id":196,"depth":354,"text":197},{"id":220,"depth":354,"text":221},{"id":251,"depth":354,"text":252},{"id":274,"depth":354,"text":275},{"id":310,"depth":354,"text":311},{"id":334,"depth":354,"text":335},"2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z","The EU AI Act sets rules for AI. What it means for Copilot, ChatGPT and friends in everyday office work and how to approach it calmly.","md",[368,371,374],{"q":369,"a":370},"What is the EU AI Act?","The AI Act is an EU regulation on artificial intelligence. It entered into force in 2024 and takes effect step by step. It classifies AI applications by risk and sets different requirements depending on the use.",{"q":372,"a":373},"Does the AI Act affect me if I only use Copilot or ChatGPT?","Most obligations are aimed at the providers of AI systems. If you use AI in your business, you should mainly make sure your team knows its way around the tools and, for certain uses, make it clear that AI is involved. For the details of your case, a legal adviser is the right contact.",{"q":375,"a":376},"Does writing office texts with AI count as high risk?","Usually not. High risk mainly covers applications in particularly sensitive areas, such as decisions about people. Typical office tasks like drafting or summarising texts generally don't fall into that category.",{"name":378,"description":379,"totalTime":380,"steps":381},"Setting up AI well in a small business","Four simple steps to use AI tools in your team mindfully and in an organised way.","P2W",[382,385,388,391],{"name":383,"text":384},"Overview","Note which AI tools the team uses and what for.",{"name":386,"text":387},"Short training","Get the team familiar with the tools, their strengths and their limits in a small session.",{"name":389,"text":390},"Write down rules","Put on one page which data may go into AI tools and when results get checked.",{"name":392,"text":393},"Review regularly","Once a year, check whether the rules still fit and whether new tools have been added.",{"src":395},"/img/blog/photo-1620712943543-bcc4688e7485.webp",{},true,"/en/blog/eu-ai-act-microsoft-copilot-smes-august-2026",{"title":53,"description":365},"en/3.blog/18.eu-ai-act-microsoft-copilot-smes-august-2026","QcUtpyRbUB1n02hfhy6A5IxS9l_lHZCJfdlCz1IvX9g",[403,408],{"title":404,"path":405,"stem":406,"description":407,"children":-1},"Euro-Office and Friends – Open-Source Office Alternatives at a Glance","/en/blog/euro-office-microsoft-365-alternative-2026","en/3.blog/16.euro-office-microsoft-365-alternative-2026","Euro-Office is a new European office project. Here's an overview of open-source office programs and which one suits whom.",{"title":409,"path":410,"stem":411,"description":412,"children":-1},"The Cyber Resilience Act, Simply Explained – Safer Software for All","/en/blog/cyber-resilience-act-september-2026-microsoft-smes-public-sector","en/3.blog/19.cyber-resilience-act-september-2026-microsoft-smes-public-sector","The Cyber Resilience Act brings more security to software and connected devices. What it covers and what it means for your everyday life.",1792720367722]