Article 53 of 11347%
Article 53: Obligations for providers of general-purpose AI models
EU Official:
ActiveIn force since 2 Aug 2025
Title V: General-Purpose AI Models
Article 53 requires providers of General Purpose AI (GPAI) models to draw up technical documentation, provide information to downstream providers, implement a copyright policy, and publish a summary of training data.
Official text
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Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. Text reproduced verbatim.
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10- Guidelines on the scope of obligations for providers of general-purpose AI models under the AI ActDetermines who qualifies as a provider of a general-purpose AI model at all and thus bears the documentation and copyright obligations, with the distinction between substantial and minor modifications.PublishedGuidelinesEuropean Commission18 Jul 2025
- The General-Purpose AI Code of PracticeTranslates the documentation, information and copyright obligations for general-purpose AI model providers into concrete practices, including a fillable documentation form and a copyright policyPublishedCode of practiceEuropean Commission / AI Office10 Jul 2025
- Explanatory Notice and Template for the Public Summary of Training Content for general-purpose AI modelsIs the mandatory template by which paragraph 1, point d is completed: without this format the public summary of training data does not meet the requirement.PublishedTemplateEuropean Commission / AI Office24 Jul 2025
- Questions and answers on the Code of Practice for General-Purpose AILinks the transparency and copyright chapters of the code to providers' documentation and copyright obligationsPublishedQ&AEuropean Commission, DG CONNECT20 Jul 2026
- Guidelines on obligations for General-Purpose AI providers - Questions & AnswersProvides the practical boundary of when an organisation that fine-tunes a model itself incurs the documentation and copyright obligations of a providerPublishedQ&AEuropean Commission, DG CONNECT11 Nov 2025
- General-Purpose AI Models in the AI Act - Questions & AnswersDescribes what technical documentation, information to users, copyright policy and summary of training data a provider must supplyPublishedQ&AEuropean Commission, DG CONNECT9 Sept 2025
- Commission Opinion on the assessment of the General-Purpose AI Code of PracticeMakes clear that signatories can rely on the code to demonstrably fulfil the obligations of this Article.PublishedOpinionEuropean Commission1 Aug 2025
- Opinion 28/2024 on certain data protection aspects related to the processing of personal data in the context of AI modelsDetermines when a general-purpose AI model trained on personal data itself still contains personal data, so that the provider may qualify not only under the general-purpose AI obligations from the AI Act but also as a processor under data protection lawPublishedOpinionEDPB (European Data Protection Board)17 Dec 2024
- AI Regulation timeline (Algoritmekader)Places the documentation and information obligations for providers of general-purpose AI models on 2 August 2025.PublishedNational guidanceMinistry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Algorithm Framework)17 Jul 2025
- Guidance on generative AI and the GDPRSets out alongside the general-purpose AI obligations in the AI Act the Dutch GDPR standard for developing and deploying generative models, so that organisations must establish both tracks in parallelPublishedGuidelinesDutch Data Protection Authority (AP)13 Jul 2026
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Frequently asked questions
What obligations apply to providers of GPAI models?+
Article 53 requires providers of General Purpose AI (GPAI) models to draw up technical documentation, provide information to downstream providers, implement a copyright policy, and publish a summary of training data.
Do SMEs also need to comply with Article 53 of the AI Act?+
Article 53 of the AI Act does not provide a general exemption for SMEs. However, the AI Act includes supportive measures and potentially lighter obligations for small and medium-sized enterprises, depending on their role in the AI value chain.
How does Article 53 of the AI Act relate to the GDPR?+
Article 53 of the AI Act complements the GDPR. While the GDPR protects personal data, the AI Act focuses on the safety and trustworthiness of AI systems. Organisations must comply with both regulations when their AI system processes personal data.
What are the deadlines for Article 53 of the AI Act?+
The AI Act follows a phased implementation. Prohibited AI practices apply from February 2025, obligations for high-risk AI systems from August 2026, and other provisions take effect gradually. The specific deadline for Article 53 depends on the category of the obligation.
Does Article 53 of the AI Act also apply to AI systems I purchase?+
Yes, Article 53 of the AI Act may also be relevant when you purchase AI systems. As a deployer, you have your own obligations under the AI Act, regardless of whether you developed the system yourself or purchased it from a provider.
What is the difference between provider and deployer under Article 53 of the AI Act?+
Under Article 53 of the AI Act, the provider is the entity that develops or places the AI system on the market, while the deployer is the entity that uses the system under its own authority. Both roles carry different obligations.
What documentation does Article 53 of the AI Act require?+
Article 53 of the AI Act requires that relevant documentation is maintained as part of the compliance process. This may include technical documentation, instructions for use, logs or declarations of conformity, depending on the classification of the AI system.
How do I document compliance with Article 53 of the AI Act?+
You document compliance with Article 53 of the AI Act by establishing a risk management system, maintaining technical documentation, and conducting internal audits. Keep all relevant documents for the period prescribed by the AI Act.
Which four obligations apply to all GPAI model providers?+
Article 53 requires: (a) preparing technical documentation (Annex XI), (b) sharing transparency information with downstream providers (Annex XII), (c) maintaining a policy to comply with EU copyright law, and (d) publishing a public summary of training data.
Since when do the GPAI obligations apply?+
The obligations for GPAI models came into force on 2 August 2025. Providers of models already on the market before that date have until 2 August 2027 to bring their models and documentation into compliance.
Is there an exemption for open-source GPAI models?+
Yes, open-source GPAI models are exempt from the documentation and transparency obligations (Article 53(1)(a) and (b)), unless the model is classified as having systemic risk. The copyright policy obligation and training data summary publication apply to all GPAI models.
What is the GPAI Code of Practice and do I need to follow it?+
The GPAI Code of Practice is a voluntary code of conduct that GPAI model providers can follow to demonstrate compliance with Article 53. Until harmonised standards are published (not expected before 2027), the Code serves as the primary means to demonstrate conformity.