> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.assenteo.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.assenteo.com/ai-and-data-protection/ai-system-risk-categories.md).

# AI System Risk Categories

The EU AI Act leverages existing EU product-safety frameworks to classify risk into categories: 

* Unacceptable Risk
* High risk
* Limited Risk
* Minimal/no Risk

### Is my AI system 'unacceptable risk'?

Your business is in particular danger of using an **'unacceptable risk'** system if it uses an AI system for the following activities:

* manipulating user behaviour;
* exploiting specific user vulnerabilities;
* using biometrics to categorise individuals by sensitive characteristics (listed in [Article 5(1)(g)](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/5/)); 
* social scoring; or
* inferring emotions in professional environments. 

This list is non-exhaustive and it may be useful to consult a professional to ensure that your AI system use is not banned in Europe. 

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If your AI system is of 'unacceptable risk' it is **entirely banned from deployment** under [Article 5](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/5/) of the EU AI Act. Failure to comply with this ban can lead to penalties up to €35 million or 7% of global turnover, whichever is higher ([Article 99(3)](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/99/))

### Is my AI system 'high-risk'?

You can expect the following applications of AI systems to suggest your system is classified as **'high-risk'** under the EU AI Act:

* Systems involved in
  * biometrics
  * critical infrastructure
  * education and vocational training
  * employment
  * access to and enjoyment of essential private and public services/ benefits
  * law enforcement
  * migration, asylum and border control management
  * administration of justice and democratic processes
* A safety component in a regulated product 

For example, an AI system that screens CVs and ranks them to aid hiring processes is a high risk system since it plays a substantial role in employment. 

### Is my AI system 'limited risk'?

Your business is likely engaging a **'limited risk'** system if it is using: 

* a chatbot/ AI agent;
* AI generated images, audios or video; or
* AI generated text.

A customer chatbot would be a typical example of a limited risk system. 

Also, if your business uses an AI system which interacts with employees or users in ways which have the potential to mislead them, it is likely a limited risk system. 

Deploying a limited risk system means certain transparency obligations apply to ensure that anyone interacting with the system is aware they are interacting with an AI system. 

### Is my AI system 'minimal' or 'no risk'? 

If your system does not fall into any of the categories above, it is possible that it is a **'minimal'** or **'no risk'** AI system. 

In general, a minimal risk system will perform a background task which does not make consequential decisions and does not have the potential to mislead users.  

Typical examples of minimal risk systems include: 

* spam email filters;
* stock forecasting;
* grammar and spell checker;
* recommendation engine; and
* route optimisation.

However, if any of the above systems are deployed in a high risk context such as healthcare or employment, this means the system becomes a high risk system. 

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