Key facts

  • Article 4 of the EU AI Act requires organisations to ensure staff have sufficient AI literacy.
  • Cover: what AI is, how your organisation uses it, acceptable use, and how to raise concerns.
  • Tailor content by role rather than running one generic session for the whole organisation.
  • Use the free AI literacy programme starter kit to build your first version quickly.
  • Refresh training at least annually, and whenever AI use changes materially.

What Article 4 requires

Article 4 of the EU AI Act requires providers and deployers to take measures ensuring staff and others operating AI systems on their behalf have sufficient AI literacy — a level of understanding proportionate to their role and the AI systems they interact with. It is a deliberately flexible obligation, not a prescriptive training syllabus.

The four core topics

What AI is and how it works, pitched at a non-technical level. How your organisation specifically uses AI — not AI in the abstract. What acceptable use looks like, including what is and is not permitted. How to raise a concern if an AI system seems to be behaving unexpectedly or producing questionable output.

Tailoring by role

A developer building AI features needs different literacy from a customer service agent using an AI-assisted tool, who in turn needs different literacy from a manager approving AI-influenced decisions. Build a short core module everyone completes, then add role-specific modules on top.

Keeping the programme current

Refresh content at least annually and whenever AI use changes materially — a new AI tool being rolled out organisation-wide is a natural trigger to update training, not wait for the next scheduled refresh.

Frequently asked questions

What does Article 4 of the EU AI Act require?

That organisations ensure staff and others operating AI systems on their behalf have sufficient AI literacy for their role.

What should an AI literacy programme cover?

What AI is, how your organisation uses it, acceptable use, and how to raise concerns.

Should AI literacy training be the same for everyone?

No — tailor it by role, with a short core module for everyone and role-specific modules on top.

How often should AI literacy training be refreshed?

At least annually, and whenever AI use in the organisation changes materially.

Is there a template to help build an AI literacy programme?

Yes — the free AI literacy programme starter kit covers the core structure and content.

Related pages

Sources

Last updated 19 June 2026.