Article 13: transparency towards deployers
Comprehensible instructions for use and system information so deployers can operate the system correctly.
The official source remains authoritative. This general interpretation is not legal advice.
- Status
- Upcoming
- Application date
- 2 December 2027
- Version
- 1.0.0
- Last reviewed
- 8 August 2026
Who this is relevant to
When this applies
Deployer
An organisation using an AI system under its authority, excluding personal non-professional use.
Provider of an AI system
A party that develops or has an AI system developed and places it on the market under its own name.
- 1The provider supplies a high-risk system; the deployer uses it according to the instructions.
What the official source establishes
Article 13 requires high-risk systems to be designed transparently enough for deployers to interpret and use the output, with instructions covering purpose, accuracy, limitations, human oversight and maintenance.
For the Annex III route this requirement applies from 2 December 2027; for high-risk AI in regulated products (Annex I) from 2 August 2028.
Our interpretation
The instructions are the hinge between provider and deployer duties: what the provider fails to supply here, the deployer cannot deliver under Article 26. Ask for it explicitly at procurement.
What you can do now
Translate received instructions per system into internal work instructions per role and record who received them.
- 01
Provide complete instructions for use
Describe capabilities, limitations, accuracy, oversight measures and expected lifetime in comprehensible form.
What to retain
Instructions and interpretation file
The received instructions for use plus their internal translation into work instructions per role.
Control and reassessment
Instructions check at deployment
At every deployment and update, verify instructions are present, current and internally translated.
Public tools
Full text of Article 13
The full legal text in the public AI Act Explorer.
Conditions and exceptions
- The level of detail may match the intended deployer’s knowledge; trade secrets need not be disclosed.
Official sources and locators
EU Artificial Intelligence Act 2024/1689
European Parliament and Council | original-oj-2024-07-12
Source locator: Article 13(1)-(3)
Digital Omnibus on AI 2026/1744
European Parliament and Council | official-journal-2026-07-24
Source locator: Amended Article 113 application dates
Version history
v1.0.0
27 July 2026
Article 13: transparency towards deployers
Comprehensible instructions for use and system information so deployers can operate the system correctly.
Execution
From obligation to arranged and demonstrable
Knowing where you stand is step one. Embed AI translates this obligation into a concrete approach for your organisation: scope, ownership, register and evidence.
See the Embed AI approachFor AI agents and integrations
This page and the machine output derive from the same versioned object. Use the API for deterministic filters by role, topic and time.