In the context of the AI Act, a "provider" is any natural or legal person who develops an artificial intelligence system and places it on the market or puts it into service under their own name or brand.
📌 Official definition (Article 3 of the AI Act):
"Provider" means any natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that develops an artificial intelligence system and places it on the market or puts it into service under their own name or brand, whether for a fee or free of charge.
Examples of AI providers:
✔️ OpenAI → develops and commercializes ChatGPT.
✔️ Google → designs Bard and Google Cloud AI models.
✔️ Microsoft → places Copilot and other AI solutions on the market, integrated into its products.
✔️ IBM → offers Watson, an AI used in healthcare and business.
✔️ AI start-ups → creating specialized AI solutions (e.g., fraud detection, image generation, chatbots).
Difference between a provider and a deployer:
| Role | Provider | Deployer |
|---|---|---|
| What they do | Develop and commercialize AI systems. | Use AI for their activities. |
| Example | OpenAI (ChatGPT), IBM (Watson), Google (Bard). | A bank using a credit scoring AI. |
| Main obligations | Ensure the technical compliance of the system before placing it on the market. | Verify that the use of AI complies with legal obligations. |