Do chatbots on my website need an AI notice?
From 2 August 2026 the chatbot must tell people they are talking to an AI, unless that is already obvious.
Drafted with AI help and checked against the official EU text before publishing.
From 2 August 2026 the chatbot must tell people they are talking to an AI, unless that is already obvious. That duty sits with the chatbot's maker (the provider). Your part: check that the widget on your site shows it clearly when the chat starts — a line in the terms and conditions usually isn't enough. If you built the bot yourself under your own name, you may be the provider.
The vendor of the chatbot is typically the provider. You, putting it on your site, are typically the deployer. The Act does not prescribe the words “powered by AI” in one official language. It does require the information to be clear by the first interaction.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What the law actually says
"The information referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be provided to the natural persons concerned in a clear and distinguishable manner at the latest at the time of the first interaction or exposure. The information shall comply with the applicable accessibility requirements."— EU AI Act, Article 50(5) (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689); applies from 2 August 2026 · eur-lex.europa.eu
In plain words
- Article 50(1) is the duty to inform. Article 50(5) says when and how: clear, distinguishable, by the first interaction.
- The vendor of the chatbot is typically the provider. You, putting it on your site, are typically the deployer. Both sides of that split still matter.
- If a human always answers, and that is obvious, you are not running a chatbot. A widget that replies on its own is.
- The Act does not prescribe the words “powered by AI” in one official language. It does require the information to be clear to the person in front of the box.
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