In the context of the EU AI Act, the term "User" refers to the entity that utilizes an AI system under its authority, typically in a professional capacity. However, in the final text of the regulation, this term was officially replaced by the term "Deployer" to avoid confusion.

During the legislative process, policymakers recognized that the word "user" was ambiguous. In common technological parlance, a "user" often refers to the consumer or the individual interacting with a tool (like a person chatting with a bot). In the legal framework of the AI Act, the intent was to regulate the organization responsible for the system's operation (e.g., a bank using AI to assess loans), not the individual consumer.

Consequently, the term "User" is now effectively obsolete in the final legal text, but it remains common in older analyses and drafts. To understand the obligations associated with this role, one must refer to the definition of Deployer.

Key Distinctions:

• Deployer (formerly User): The entity (company, public authority) that decides to use the AI system for its operations.
• Affected Person: The individual who is subject to the AI system's output (e.g., the job applicant rejected by the AI).

End-User: A casual term often used to describe the person interacting with the AI, but not a formal legal role in the Act's compliance structure.