Federal Council takes note of interim progress on AI regulation
Berna, 28.10.2026 — The federal government is pressing ahead with steps to implement the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI). At its meeting on 28 October, the Federal Council took note of the progress of work to date and the initial results. These include a report on ongoing AI activities within the Federal Administration, as well as guidance on voluntary commitments by associations and companies.
On 12 February 2025, the Federal Council decided to ratify the AI Convention. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is coordinating the implementation of these non-legally binding measures. These include, guidelines, industry standards and voluntary commitments.
Initial results: Overview and Toolkit
The OFCOM report entitled ‘Sector-specific measures for the regulation of Artificial Intelligence’ is based on a survey of all federal agencies and provides an overview of current and planned measures in various sectors (e.g. transport, energy, health, media). It reveals that there is a great deal of momentum within the Federal Administration with regard to AI. High-tech sectors and those relating to intellectual property, data processing, digital infrastructure and regulated markets face particular challenges.
The ‘Guide on an AI Code of Conduct’ is a toolkit for associations and businesses intended to help them draw up voluntary guidelines on the use of AI. To this end, the guide provides suggested texts on 10 topics at three levels of detail, which can be combined as desired. A multi-stage process guides the development from the outset right through to ongoing refinement. The aim is to ensure that AI is used responsibly, with this approach being put into practice, reviewed and continuously improved in everyday life.
Industry dialogues already under way
Various federal agencies are already holding AI dialogues to develop sector-specific voluntary commitments. Since November 2025, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) has been conducting an ‘AI Dialogue on Culture’ with the creative sector, which is intended, amongst other things, to produce a code of ethics on AI. The Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) has called on the electricity sector to draw up industry guidelines and voluntary commitments to address the risks posed by AI to the electricity supply. In May, OFCOM held discussions with the media sector about drafting a voluntary commitment.
Further work
The Federal Council has tasked DETEC (OFCOM) with establishing an internal administrative knowledge-sharing platform on the sector’s AI self-regulation activities by the end of March 2028, which would provide methodological support to the departments where necessary, and further develop the guidance document on an AI code of practice.
Legal measures
The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) is drawing up the legally binding measures to implement the Council of Europe’s AI Convention. In particular, the regulations are intended to cover transparency, data protection, non-discrimination, supervision and risk assessment. The consultation is scheduled to begin in spring 2027.