OpenAI has outlined how it aligns its safety, security, and transparency work with the EU AI Act's General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice, as enforcement of the regulation approaches. The company says it already operates near the bar set by the code, pointing to a stack of existing practices as evidence.
OpenAI Endorses EU GPAI Code of Practice
The company has contributed to and endorsed the EU's GPAI Code of Practice, along with the Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content. Both codes emerged from multi-stakeholder processes, according to InsideAI News.
The GPAI Code sets a shared bar for transparency, safety, and security across general-purpose models sold or deployed in the EU. This means any company offering such models in the European market must meet these standards, and OpenAI is positioning itself as already compliant.
Existing Safety Practices Under the EU AI Act
OpenAI points to several existing practices as evidence it already operates near the GPAI Code's requirements. These include pre-release testing of models, published system cards accompanying major launches, and outside red-teaming through what it calls its Red Teaming Network.
The company also maintains a public Model Spec document that describes how its models should behave. These practices together form the foundation of OpenAI's safety and transparency framework, which the company says aligns with the EU's regulatory expectations.
"The GPAI Code sets a shared bar for transparency, safety, and security across general-purpose models sold or deployed in the EU." — InsideAI News
What the GPAI Code Means for AI Companies
The EU AI Act's GPAI Code applies to all general-purpose AI models sold or deployed in the European Union. This includes large language models and other foundation models that can be used across multiple applications.
For companies like OpenAI, the code creates a clear framework for what regulators expect. The multi-stakeholder process behind the code means it reflects input from industry, civil society, and other groups, giving it broad legitimacy.
- OpenAI has endorsed both the GPAI Code of Practice and the Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content
- The company cites pre-release testing, system cards, and red-teaming as existing aligned practices
- OpenAI maintains a public Model Spec document as part of its transparency efforts
Our Take: OpenAI's EU AI Act Alignment Strategy
In our view, OpenAI's move to publicly align with the EU AI Act's GPAI Code is a smart strategic step. By highlighting existing practices rather than announcing new ones, the company signals that it sees regulation as a validation of what it already does — not a burden.
This approach also puts pressure on competitors. If OpenAI can demonstrate compliance using practices it already has in place, other companies will need to show similar maturity or risk looking unprepared as enforcement approaches.
For readers, the key takeaway is that the EU AI Act is moving from theory to practice. Companies operating in the EU need to take the GPAI Code seriously, and OpenAI's endorsement shows that even the biggest AI developers are preparing for what comes next.
The real test will come when enforcement begins. Until then, OpenAI's alignment statement is a clear signal that the industry is paying attention to European regulation — and that compliance is becoming a competitive advantage.
