On February 2, 2025, the requirement for AI literacy entered into application, as outlined in Article 4 of the AI Act (Regulation EU 2024/1689), amended by the Digital Omnibus on AI.
AI literacy obligation
article 4 (1) AI Act: “Providers and deployers of AI systems shall take measures to support the development of AI literacy of their staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education and training and the context the AI systems are to be used in, and considering the persons or groups of persons on whom the AI systems are to be used. This obligation does not require providers or deployers to guarantee any specific level of AI literacy of any individual.”
AI literacy definition
article 3 item 56 AI Act: “skills, knowledge and understanding that allow providers, deployers and affected persons, taking into account their respective rights and obligations in the context of this Regulation, to make an informed deployment of AI systems, as well as to gain awareness about the opportunities and risks of AI and possible harm it can cause.”
Recital 20 of the AI Act
“In order to obtain the greatest benefits from AI systems while protecting fundamental rights, health and safety and to enable democratic control, AI literacy should equip providers, deployers and affected persons with the necessary notions to make informed decisions regarding AI systems. Those notions may vary with regard to the relevant context and can include understanding the correct application of technical elements during the AI system’s development phase, the measures to be applied during its use, the suitable ways in which to interpret the AI system’s output, and, in the case of affected persons, the knowledge necessary to understand how decisions taken with the assistance of AI will have an impact on them. In the context of the application this Regulation, AI literacy should provide all relevant actors in the AI value chain with the insights required to ensure the appropriate compliance and its correct enforcement. Furthermore, the wide implementation of AI literacy measures and the introduction of appropriate follow-up actions could contribute to improving working conditions and ultimately sustain the consolidation, and innovation path of trustworthy AI in the Union. The European Artificial Intelligence Board (the ‘Board’) should support the Commission, to promote AI literacy tools, public awareness and understanding of the benefits, risks, safeguards, rights and obligations in relation to the use of AI systems. In cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, the Commission and the Member States should facilitate the drawing up of voluntary codes of conduct to advance AI literacy among persons dealing with the development, operation and use of AI.”
Article 4 of the AI Act reinforces the provisions regarding transparency towards the deployers (Article 13 of the AI Act) and human oversight (Article 14 of the AI Act). At the same time, Article 4 indirectly contributes to the protection of affected persons, given that it supports the effective application of the other rules set out in the AI Act. Criteria for AI literacy measures:
Measures taken to support literacy must be tailored to the context in which AI systems are used, as well as to the technical knowledge, experience, education, and training of the providers’ and deployers’ personnel.
They must also take into account the persons or groups of persons in relation to whom the AI systems are used.
The AI Act does not impose an obligation on providers or deployers to ensure a specific level of AI knowledge on the part of any individual.