The Commission aims to increase the number of AI experts by training and attracting more researchers and professionals, and by improving AI skills and literacy of workers and the general population.
AI literacy in the AI Act
Article 4 of the AI Act entered into application on 2 February 2025, and it was later amended via the Digital Omnibus on AI that entered into force in mid-July 2026.
AI Literacy is an important policy objective of the Commission and an obligation under the AI Act for all providers and deployers of AI. It requires providers and deployers of AI systems to 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 does not imply that a certain level of AI literacy of any individual is required. The Commission and the Member States will have to support the efforts of providers and deployers, in particular when they are SMEs.
The amendments to the provision ensure its facilitated compliance:
- AI literacy remains an obligation for providers and deployers of AI systems, but no specific – or ‘sufficient’ - level is mandated (Article 4(1));
- the European Commission and Member States will need to continue supporting providers and deployers’ efforts, including through the publication of practical examples (Article 4(2));
- The AI Board should adopt recommendations on Article 4 to support the Commission and Member States in the promotion of AI literacy, taking into account existing competence frameworks and setting out common objectives (Article 4(3)).
The supervision and enforcement of article 4 is in the remit of the national market surveillance authorities, which start supervising and enforcing the rules as of 2 August 2026.
Meanwhile, the Commission continues its ongoing activities to support AI literacy (see below) and work closely with Member States in the AI Board to facilitate providers’ and deployers’ efforts, including by working on recommendations mentioned in Article 4(3).
Ongoing activities in support of AI literacy under the AI Act
The AI Office published questions & answers on AI literacy containing more information on the requirements and enforcement of article 4 and launched a repository of AI literacy practices to support learning and exchange among providers and deployers and the wider public.
The repository currently provides examples of more than 40 AI literacy initiatives implemented by companies and the public sector and gathered in two moments:
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative. Continue reading at EU AI Act Implementation ↗