Artificial Intelligence
Regulation in Switzerland
Artificial intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly in recent years. With the broad availability of generative AI applications such as ChatGPT, the topic of AI has also entered the public debate. For Switzerland as a business and innovation location, AI offers great opportunities. At the same time, new legal challenges arise, e.g. regarding the transparency and traceability of AI-based decisions.
At international level, new legal frameworks such as the Council of Europe’s AI Convention and the EU’s AI Act have been developed in response to these challenges. In Switzerland, there is not yet any overarching legislation specifically on AI. The Federal Council therefore instructed the Federal Administration to prepare an overview of possible regulatory approaches to AI. On the basis of that overview, the Federal Council decided on 12 February 2025 to adopt a Swiss regulatory approach to AI. This is intended to strengthen Switzerland as a hub for innovation, safeguard fundamental rights – including economic freedom – and increase public trust in AI.
To this end, the Federal Council has decided to ratify the Council of Europe’s AI Convention and incorporate it into Swiss law. Where legislative amendments are necessary, they should be as sector-specific as possible. Only key areas relevant to fundamental rights, such as data protection, will be subject to general regulation. Legally non-binding measures are also envisaged to implement the Convention.
AI regulation: Federal Council to ratify Council of Europe Convention Switzerland's regulatory approach
Implementation: Two strands of work
Since the Federal Council’s decision in February 2025, work has been proceeding on two fronts:
Legally binding measures (legislation)
With a view to transposing the Council of Europe’s AI Convention into national law, the FDJP (FOJ) is working with DETEC (OFCOM) and the FDFA to draw up a draft act for consultation. This will contain rules on transparency, data protection, non-discrimination, supervision and risk assessment. The consultation is scheduled for spring 2027.
Legally non-binding measures (self-regulation, industry-wide solutions)
DETEC (OFCOM), together with the FDJP, the FDFA and the EAER, is to coordinate the legally non-binding measures. The aim is to draw up an implementation plan for the measures that are not laid down in legislation. These include, for example, sectoral dialogues, guidelines, industry standards and voluntary commitments.
The combination of legally binding and non-binding measures is intended to provide a more robust legal framework while taking into account the rapid development and potential of AI.
Initial results: Overview and toolkit
As part of the legally non-binding measures, OFCOM has presented two results. These include a report on ongoing AI activities within the Federal Administration, as well as guidance on voluntary commitments by associations and companies.
- The ‘Report on 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). (in German and French)
Rapport sur les mesures sectorielles relatives à la réglementation de l’intelligence artificielle
- The ‘Guide on an AI Code of Conduct’ is a toolkit for associations and businesses. It helps them to draw up voluntary guidelines for the use of AI. The guidance document provides text modules at three levels of detail and suggests a process for drawing up voluntary commitments. (in German and French)
Guide pour l’élaboration d’un code en matière d’IA
28.10.2026
Federal Council takes note of interim progress on AI regulation
Overview and baseline analyses for 2025
- The overview underpinning the Federal Council’s decision of 12 February 2025 on the Swiss regulatory approach is based on three fundamental analyses. (in German and French)
- A sectoral analysis (in German and French) which provides an overview of existing and planned changes to federal law in various sectors in relation to AI.
- A country analysis which presents the regulatory developments in relation to AI in 20 selected countries.