Federal Network Agency launches AI helpdesk to better advise companies on usage

Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) presented a new advisory service at a conference in Frankfurt on Thursday: the AI Service Desk at the Federal Network Agency. The regulatory authority intends to use the portal to provide practical information for companies, authorities and organizations on questions relating to the EU's AI regulation. It includes an interactive "Compliance Compass", for example. This tool should enable users to quickly and easily check whether and to what extent the AI Act is applicable to the AI systems they use, and which rules they may have to follow as a result.

Compass for legally compliant AI

The AI Regulation generally follows a risk-based approach. The aim is to establish a uniform, horizontal legal framework for artificial intelligence. Dangerous practices such as the use of AI for social scoring, the indiscriminate collection of facial images from the internet, the exploitation of security vulnerabilities or human weaknesses and the manipulation of free will are prohibited. Emotion recognition in the workplace and in educational institutions will also be banned. Beyond such unacceptable technologies, high-risk AI systems can only be placed on the EU market if they meet binding requirements.

The Federal Network Agency's compass is now intended to provide information on whether a system is a regulated AI system, whether there are transparency obligations and whether the technology used could be classified as high-risk or even prohibited. The AI Service Desk also provides general information via a question-and-answer list and examples to better understand the requirements of the AI Act. This should lead to greater legal certainty in the implementation of the AI Regulation. The service is primarily aimed at the business community – and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. The private use of AI systems is not affected by the rules.

Wildberger wants "lean" AI supervision

The online secretary is also intended to provide guidance on the regulations already in force regarding the preparation of employees. Accordingly, all organizations that use, provide or develop AI systems have been obliged since February to ensure a sufficient level of AI competence in the workforce. The portal also provides information on free training courses for employees. Operators of general-purpose AI models that were launched on the market before August 2, 2025 must then comply with the requirements of the regulation two years later from 2027.

"Companies need clear and reliable framework conditions to develop and successfully implement innovative AI solutions," emphasized Wildberger. "We want to provide them with the best possible support." The minister also wants the help page to be understood as a signal of "how we envisage national AI supervision: business and innovation-friendly, with lean, fast structures and clear guidance" for companies. The Federal Network Agency is set to play a central role in the implementation of the AI regulation in Germany. It is currently preparing for this. The agency is intended to act as an interface to the EU Commission's AI Office and the responsible bodies in the member states. In May, it launched a pilot project with Hessian partners to simulate an AI real-world laboratory.

(nie)