New regulations concerning artificial intelligence (AI) have been largely implemented within the European Union. The EU’s AI law establishes requirements for the development and deployment of AI systems. However, Norway and the European Economic Area (EEA) are currently lagging in adopting these same rules. This means a gap exists between the EU’s AI governance and that of nations closely aligned with it. The new rules aim to ensure AI systems are safe and respect fundamental rights. Further action is needed from Norway and the EEA to align with the evolving EU landscape. This divergence could potentially create challenges for cross-border AI applications and innovation.