AI Regulatory Sandbox Approaches: EU Member State Overview

AI regulatory sandboxes are controlled testing environments where companies can develop and test AI systems with guidance from regulators before releasing them to the public, as required by the EU AI Act (EU's new rules for artificial intelligence). These sandboxes help companies understand what regulations they must follow, protect them from fines if they follow official guidance, and make it easier for small startups to enter the market. Each EU Member State must create at least one sandbox by August 2, 2026, though different countries are taking different approaches to organizing them.