AI Literacy provisions in the EU AI Act enter into force on the 02 February 2025. We explore these provisions and offer insights into how organisations can prepare to meet the upcoming requirements.
What is AI Literacy?
Article 3(56) of the EU AI Act defines it comprehensively as:
“Skills, knowledge, and understanding that allow providers, deployers, and affected persons to make an informed deployment of AI systems, considering the opportunities and risks of AI, and the potential harm it can cause.”
The definition encapsulates the EU’s emphasis on promoting the ethical and responsible use of AI. Further, it highlights that anyone from a developer, deployer, or an individual affected by AI, must understand its benefits and risks.
How can a business comply with these requirements?
Article 4 of the EU AI Act states:
“Providers and deployers of AI systems shall ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy for their staff and others operating or using AI systems on their behalf. This includes considering the technical knowledge, experience, education, and training of the individuals involved and the context in which the AI systems are used.”
The EU AI Act requires literacy across a business’s workforce. In particular, this applies to those members of staff who will directly interact with AI systems. In this respect, literacy training is ideally tailor-made for the members of staff undergoing training.
Why AI Literacy Matters
AI literacy goes beyond the technical skills required to operate or use AI systems. It necessitates that staff are knowledgeable on the ethical and legal implications of AI. Further, they must be aware of the regulatory requirements that apply to them in terms of the EU AI Act.
It therefore becomes crucial for several reasons, including:
- Ethical deployment of AI. This ensures that AI systems within one’s organisation are designed, deployed, and managed responsibly, as applicable.
- Effective risk management. This is paramount to ensure that the risks associated with AI, and how to mitigate them, are understood.
- Compliance. This allows businesses to stay aligned with regulations to avoid potential penalties and harm to their reputation.
Proper literacy must begin in your business, and it will be essential that it is custom-made for your particular requirements. However, there will be further support. The European Artificial Intelligence Board, within the European Commission, will promote literacy, raise public awareness, and provide information on the rights and obligations related to AI systems.
Voluntary Codes of Conduct
In addition to formal regulations, the European Commission and EU Member States are working on voluntary Codes of Conduct. These aim at enhancing AI literacy among developers, operators, and users of AI systems. These Codes will possibly serve as best practice guidelines for organisations that wish to stay ahead of the curve.
Implementing AI Literacy: Blue Arrow’s Approach
At Blue Arrow, we recognise the importance of literacy training and offer tailored solutions to help businesses comply with the EU AI Act. Our approach includes:
- The Discovery Phase. We assess your business’s current AI knowledge and compliance needs to create a personalised strategy.
- Designing a Custom Strategy. We design AI training programmes tailored to different roles within your organisation, focusing on technical skills, ethics, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
- Implementation. Our practical training equips your team with the knowledge and skills they need to use AI responsibly and in line with regulations.
Post-Training Support
To ensure long-term success, Blue Arrow also offers post-training support that includes:
- Helping develop internal procedures and policies for ongoing AI literacy training.
- Setting up monitoring systems to assess the effectiveness of your AI literacy programmes.
- Assisting with maintaining detailed records of training programs and compliance measures to prepare for regulatory audits.
Conclusion
As the 2025 deadline approaches, organisations must prioritise AI literacy to stay compliant with the EU AI Act. Beyond compliance, fostering AI literacy will help ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies, paving the way for innovation.
Is your organisation ready for the EU AI Act? Contact Blue Arrow today to ensure your teams are prepared and compliant with our tailored training solutions.
