THE EU AI ACT PLAYBOOK FOR FUNDS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES: A Practical Guide to AI Governance and Compliance

Most firms reading this are already non-compliant with the EU AI Act.Not because they have done anything wrong. Because they are using AI systemsevery day — systems explicitly classified as high-risk under this regulation —with no documentation, no oversight logs, and no governance framework.From December 2027, the Central Bank of Ireland and other EU regulators willhave the legal power to ask for all of it. This is the book that tells youexactly what to do.Written for compliance officers, COOs, fund managers, and boards — not lawyers.The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive legal framework governing AI.It applies to fund managers, AIFMs, administrators, and UCITS managementcompanies across Europe. It also applies to any non-European manager — US, UK,or global — whose AI systems affect people in the EU. If you have Irish orEuropean investors, it applies to you, regardless of where your firm is based.The penalties are real: up to €35 million or 7% of global annual turnoverfor the most serious violations. More immediately, this will appear in LP duediligence before regulators act. That is your real deadline.What this Playbook delivers:A plain-English breakdown of your firm's obligations under the EU AI ActHow to identify and classify the AI systems your firm is already usingThe provider-deployer distinction and what it means for your contractsThe six deployer obligations every firm must meetHow the Act intersects with DORA, GDPR, and AML frameworksA 12-month implementation roadmap with phased actionsReady-to-use templates: AI register, risk classification, vendor due diligenceBoard-ready briefing materials and compliance checklists Where is your firm today? Most are at Level 1 or 2 on a four-levelgovernance maturity model. The required answer is Level 4 by December 2027.This Playbook closes the gap.About the AuthorShane Brett, PhD has over twenty-five years of experience in the globalinvestment funds industry. He founded GECKO Governance, a US VC-backed RegTechcompany serving the global funds industry, and now leads Global Perspectives,an AI governance consultancy specialising in financial services. He holds a PhDin innovation and an Advanced Diploma in AI from University College Dublin, withpeer-reviewed academic publications in AI governance.This is not a legal textbook. It is practical guidance from someone who hasworked in this industry, in this regulatory environment, and knows what works.Updated quarterly. Free PDF updates provided to all purchasers for two years. Read more