The EU AI Act distinguishes providers, who develop an AI system (or have it developed) and place it on the market under their own name, from deployers, who use it under their own authority in a professional context.
Example
A company using ready-made AI software to sort applications is a deployer; the maker is the provider.
For pros
The roles are defined in Art. 3 and determine which obligations apply. Deployers of high-risk AI must, for example, use it according to the instructions and ensure human oversight (Art. 26); after the 2026 amendment these duties apply from 2 December 2027 or 2 August 2028. The AI literacy duty (Art. 4) already applies to both roles. Anyone who substantially modifies a system can become a provider themselves.
General information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, ask a qualified lawyer.
