Why can one company hold more than one AI Act role?
Roles attach to conduct around a particular system or model. An organisation can deploy a vendor system, become a provider after substantial modification or branding, and import another system in a separate flow.
Operating sequence
- 01
Inventory each system, model, intended purpose, geography, brand, contractual chain, and modification.
- 02
Assign roles per use and record the facts that support each conclusion.
- 03
Reassess role when purpose, branding, model, integration, or value-chain position changes.
Failure modes to avoid
- Using “customer” and “vendor” as legal role labels.
- Assuming open-source availability eliminates every obligation.
- Classifying risk before identifying whose intended purpose controls.
The source remains the authority.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, definitions and value-chain duties — EUR-Lex