Why Now Daily.

Published

EU AI Act AI Literacy: What Article 4 Requires

Article 4 requires providers and deployers of AI systems to take context-sensitive measures supporting AI literacy among staff and other people operating or using those systems for them. A 2026 amendment removed earlier “sufficient level” wording but retained the organizational obligation.

Timeline

  1. 2025-02-02: The original AI Act provisions on AI literacy began to apply.
  2. 2026-07: The Digital Omnibus amendment entered into force and revised Article 4 while retaining the obligation for providers and deployers.
  3. 2026-08: The Commission says national market-surveillance authorities began supervising and enforcing the provision.

Article 4 of the EU AI Act requires providers and deployers of AI systems to take measures that support the development of AI literacy among their staff and other people who operate or use AI systems on their behalf. The duty is relevant to organizations that build AI and to organizations that use third-party AI. It applies in context: the measures should reflect people’s technical knowledge, experience, education and training, the way the system is used, and the people affected by that use. [1][2]

The wording changed in July 2026. The original regulation told providers and deployers to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 replaced that formulation with a duty to take measures to support the development of AI literacy. The Commission explains that no specific or “sufficient” level is now mandated, but the underlying organizational obligation remains. Older summaries that repeat only the original wording therefore need this update. [2][3]

AI literacy is broader than knowing how to type a prompt. The Commission’s guidance says organizations should understand what AI they use, whether they are providers or deployers, what risks those systems create, and what each group of workers needs to know. Useful literacy measures can cover capabilities, limitations, hallucinations, data handling, appropriate human review, legal and ethical issues, escalation routes and the effect of AI-assisted decisions on other people. [1][4]

The approach is risk-based and role-specific rather than a single course for everyone. Staff using a writing assistant may need guidance on inaccurate output, confidentiality and review. People operating a higher-risk system may need deeper instruction on data quality, oversight, logging and intervention. Technical experience can reduce basic training needs, but it does not automatically prove that a person understands the organization’s particular systems, risks or governance rules. [1][4]

Article 4 does not prescribe one training format, require an AI-literacy certificate or mandate a particular governance title. The Commission says organizations may use training, guidance and other initiatives, and may keep internal records of those actions. Its repository of practices can provide ideas, but copying an example does not automatically create a presumption of compliance. A practical record can identify the system, audience, risks covered, learning activity, date, owner and follow-up. [1][4]

The provision began applying on February 2, 2025. According to the Commission, supervision and enforcement now sit with national market-surveillance authorities rather than the EU AI Office. Enforcement is meant to be proportionate and depends on the facts and applicable national law. Organizations outside the EU can also fall within the Act when an AI system is placed on the EU market, used in the EU or affects people located there. [1][5]

A sensible implementation starts with an inventory of AI systems and the people who use them, followed by a documented assessment of roles, affected groups and foreseeable risks. Training and guidance can then be matched to those findings and refreshed when systems or uses change. This is a practical reading of official guidance, not a guarantee of compliance; organizations should consult the current regulation, Commission materials and the relevant national authority for their circumstances. [1][2][4]

Sources

  1. European Commission — AI literacy questions and answers
  2. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act)
  3. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 amending the AI Act
  4. European Commission — Navigating the AI Act
  5. European Commission AI Act Service Desk — Implementation timeline

Related stories