OpenAI EU Code of Practice and European AI Strategy

OpenAI has announced its intention to sign the EU’s Code of Practice for General Purpose AI, provided the current version is formally approved by the AI Board. This move aligns OpenAI with the EU AI Act’s risk-based framework and coincides with the launch of the ‘OpenAI for Countries European Rollout’, an initiative designed to accelerate AI infrastructure, talent, and adoption across the European continent.

Compliance with the EU Code of Practice

OpenAI intends to sign the Code of Practice, which serves as a framework for AI developers to comply with the EU AI Act. The company emphasizes that for Europe to lead in an AI-first economy, compliance for homegrown startups and smaller businesses must be streamlined and simplified. OpenAI has advocated for harmonization to ensure that smaller European entities can compete globally without being hindered by regulatory complexity.

The OpenAI for Countries European Rollout

To support European governments and businesses, OpenAI is initiating a European rollout of its ‘OpenAI for Countries’ program. This initiative focuses on five key pillars of AI development:

Data Center Capacity

OpenAI has submitted Expressions of Interest to join consortiums for the EU’s AI Gigafactories initiative. The goal is to provide sovereign compute capacity and support new local industries through next-generation AI infrastructure.

AI-Powered Education

Building on a partnership with the Estonian government to roll out ChatGPT Edu to secondary schools nationwide, OpenAI is exploring similar implementations with other EU governments to personalize learning for students and teachers.

Strategic Government Partnerships

OpenAI is expanding its public sector offerings, including EU data residency and the ability to customize ChatGPT for local languages and cultures. The company aims to develop a new playbook for public-private partnerships tailored to the AI era.

National AI Startup Funds

OpenAI intends to collaborate with willing governments to raise dedicated country-level funds to seed high-potential AI startups. These funds are designed to provide local founders with early access to cutting-edge technology and technical support to drive jobs and revenue.

AI Uptake and Adoption

In September, OpenAI will partner with Allied for Startups to run an AI policy hackathon in Brussels focused on unlocking AI adoption across all sectors of the European economy.

Integration with EU AI Strategy

OpenAI argues that the Code of Practice should be aligned with the AI Continent Action Plan to create a unified European AI strategy. The company suggests that the EU should evaluate how regulatory settings impact the pace of AI adoption and the availability of raw materials, such as energy and training data, to address the productivity gap between Europe and the U.S.

Commitment to Responsible AI

OpenAI's commitment to safety and transparency is integrated into its adherence to the Code of Practice. The company references several existing safety frameworks and protocols:

  • Preparedness Framework: An updated version was published in April 2025 to outline the safe deployment of frontier AI models.

  • Bletchley Declaration (November 2023) and Seoul Framework (May 2024): OpenAI is a signatory to both international safety agreements.

  • Safety Tools: OpenAI utilizes System Cards for major releases, a public Safety Evaluation Hub, a Red Teaming Network of external experts, and a Model Spec to align model behavior with human values and democratic norms.

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