Understanding the EU AI Act: The Importance of the « AI Literacy » Principle
The EU AI Act represents a groundbreaking piece of legislation, being the first comprehensive law governing the commercialization and use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the European Union. Among its numerous provisions, the « AI literacy » principle stands out as a critical obligation that organizations must adhere to in order to ensure that their staff can effectively navigate the complexities of AI technologies.
What is AI Literacy?
Defined by the EU AI Act, AI literacy encompasses the skills, knowledge, and understanding required for informed use and operation of AI systems. This initiative aims to enhance awareness regarding the opportunities and risks associated with AI, ultimately enabling employees to make informed decisions about AI outputs and the processes involved in AI decision-making.
Who Needs to Comply?
Both providers and users of AI systems are required to ensure that their personnel possess a sufficient level of AI literacy. This requirement applies universally, independent of the perceived risk level of the AI system. Consequently, organizations must train employees who are involved with any AI system governed by the AI Act, including those classified as “limited risk,” such as AI chatbots.
What is the Requirement?
The EU AI Act mandates that organizations take measures to ensure, to the best of their ability, a sufficient level of AI literacy among their staff. This requirement emphasizes that the level of literacy must align with the technical knowledge, experience, and education of the employees involved, as well as the specific context in which the AI system operates.
How to Comply?
While the EU AI Act does not dictate the precise methods for compliance, organizations may consider the following strategies:
- Identify AI Usage/Development: Assess how employees currently engage with AI technologies.
- Assess Understanding of AI: Evaluate existing AI knowledge among staff through surveys or quizzes.
- Leverage Internal Expertise: Utilize the skills and insights of internal teams to develop and deliver training programs.
- Leverage External Expertise: Engage external experts to fill knowledge gaps, especially regarding high-risk AI systems.
- Develop an AI Literacy Program: Create tailored training programs with clear objectives that address critical topics in AI.
- Distribute and Train: Ensure training materials are engaging and accessible across various platforms.
- Encourage Practical Experience: Provide opportunities for employees to apply their AI knowledge in real-world scenarios.
- Implement Feedback Mechanisms: Collect employee feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program.
- Document Thoroughly: Maintain detailed records of all training activities to demonstrate compliance.
- Regularly Update: Continuously refresh the training program to keep up with evolving AI technologies and regulations.
What Regulatory Guidance Exists?
Guidance regarding AI literacy is currently limited, but the EU AI Act empowers the EU AI Office to work with member states to develop voluntary codes of conduct, including those that promote AI literacy. For instance, the Dutch Data Protection Authority is actively collaborating with stakeholders to ensure organizations maintain a satisfactory level of AI knowledge.
When to Comply?
The EU AI Act will be implemented gradually, with most obligations becoming enforceable by August 2, 2026. However, the requirement for AI literacy will take effect earlier, on February 2, 2025. Organizations have a limited timeframe to establish what constitutes adequate AI literacy measures and to implement these strategies effectively.
As organizations prepare for the upcoming requirements, it is essential to recognize that fostering AI literacy is not merely a regulatory obligation but a vital component of responsible AI usage that can significantly impact decision-making and operational success.
