This paper investigates how the European Parliament operationalized experimentalist governance principles in shaping the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Through a detailed analysis of legislative amendments, committee structures, and stakeholder engagement, the study examines the Parliament’s role as a normative and institutional anchor in the AI policy cycle. The research is guided by the question: How did the European Parliament operationalize experimentalist governance principles in shaping the EU Artificial Intelligence Act? The hypothesis tested is that the European Parliament’s strategic use of amendments, stakeholder engagement, and institutional reforms enabled the transformation of the EU AI Act from a technocratic proposal into a recursive, rights-based governance framework. The findings demonstrate that the Parliament consistently acted as a transmission belt—connecting civil society, expert networks, and legal institutions to formal policymaking. Its emphasis on horizontal regulation, transparency obligations, and ethical safeguards shaped the final text of the law, particularly in relation to general-purpose AI models, deepfakes, and high-risk applications. Structural reforms such as the creation of the AI Office and the embedding of fundamental rights impact assessments reflect the Parliament’s commitment to democratic legitimacy and adaptive oversight. By institutionalizing peer review, stakeholder consultation, and cross-border enforcement mechanisms, the Parliament redefined the procedural and normative architecture of EU digital regulation. This study contributes to broader debates on digital governance, legislative innovation, and the role of democratic institutions in regulating emerging technologies.