OpenAI Begins Watermarking ChatGPT Text in EU Following New Regulatory Requirements
OpenAI is beginning to watermark text generated by ChatGPT and Codex within the EU to comply with the requirements of the EU AI Act. The measure will be rolled out over the coming weeks, enabling AI-generated text to be identified by other systems.
What happened?
On 5 October 2026, OpenAI announced that it is beginning to add an invisible watermark to text generated by ChatGPT and Codex within the European Union. The measure is being taken to comply with the transparency rules stipulated in the EU AI Act. The watermarking feature will be rolled out over the coming weeks for users on all ChatGPT and Codex subscription plans within the EU.
Key facts
| Tillkännagivandedatum | 5 oktober 2026 |
|---|---|
| EU AI Act transparensdatum | 2 augusti 2026 |
| Berörda produkter | ChatGPT, Codex |
| Region | Europeiska unionen |
Why it matters
The background to this change lies in the transparency requirements of the EU AI Act, which entered into force on 2 August 2026. The legislation requires AI companies to tag generated content so that other digital systems can identify the material. The move marks a step in aligning generative AI tools with European regulatory requirements.
Who is affected?
The measure affects ChatGPT and Codex users in the EU across all account and subscription tiers. Developers using OpenAI’s API globally can, as of 5 October 2026, choose to enable text watermarking for selected models.
Impact on the EU
OpenAI is implementing text watermarking specifically in the EU to meet the requirements of the EU AI Act. Since August 2026, the regulation has required that AI-generated content be identifiable by other systems. While the feature is mandatory for users in the EU, it is not yet being rolled out as a global standard for consumers.
What else you should know
The watermark does not consist of visible characters or symbols, but functions through subtle adjustments to the model's choice of words and sequences. Text watermarking is disabled by default in the API globally, but developers can manually activate it for selected models.
Quick answers about this story
Vad har hänt?
När hände det?
Varför spelar det roll?
Påverkar det EU?
The link opens in a new window and leads to the publisher's own site.
Källan har spårats automatiskt från utgivaren via Aheadlines signalkedja.
AI-verktyg i artikeln
Topics
Get similar news straight to your inbox
The reader's room
Send in a question or an addition. The newsroom reads everything before it's published and replies when relevant. No AI-generated text – just people.
Sign in to submit a comment or question.
Read the article through your role
- Decide whether this affects strategy over 6–12 months or is just noise.
- Discuss with leadership: do we own the right question or does ownership need to move?
- Ask: what risk are we taking by NOT acting on this this quarter?
Generated angle — not editorial analysis of "OpenAI Begins Watermarking ChatGPT Text in EU Following New "