New regulations on artificial intelligence come into force in the European Union last month, including not just regulations on bans on certain AI systems, but also recommendations for so called “AI Literacy” practices. They are intended to support suppliers and entities using AI in their daily business operations.

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The AI Act indicates that suppliers and entities applying AI systems shall take measures to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, an adequate level of AI competence among their personnel and others involved in the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education and training, and the context in which the AI systems are to be used, and taking into account the individuals or groups of people against whom the AI systems are to be used.

Why acquiring AI Literacy is important

AI literacy refers to the skills, knowledge, and understanding that enable suppliers, users, and other people impacted by AI to implement AI systems thoughtfully and to be aware of the opportunities and risks of AI and the potential harm it can cause.

The need to equip suppliers, adopters and others affected by AI with AI competencies is one of the key goals of the introduction of the AI Act in the era of the AI revolution currently underway around the world. By constantly improving AI literacy, everyone, whether in business or in private, will be able to make conscious decisions regarding AI, which can often protect them from various attempts at manipulation, extortion, fraud, etc.

Obviously, AI competencies may vary depending on the particular context and may include an understanding of the correct application of technical elements at the development stage of an AI system, an understanding of the means to be used during its use, the appropriate ways to interpret the results of work of AI system, and, in the case of those affected by AI, the knowledge necessary to understand how decisions made with AI will affect them.

Thus, it can be summarized that AI literacy aim to optimize the use of AI systems while protecting the health and safety of users and providing democratic control to all EU member states. Gazing ahead, all entities and individuals who invest in the development of AI competencies will undoubtedly be much better prepared for the new era of economic development, and that may result in improving their working conditions, keeping their jobs or remaining competitive in the market.

Who the AI Literacy requirements are aimed at

The obligation to hold adequate AI literacy has been imposed on two groups of entities:

  1. AI system providers, i.e., individuals or legal entities, public authorities, agencies, or other entities that develop AI systems or general-purpose AI models, or commission the development of AI systems or general-purpose AI models, and that, for a fee or free of charge, market or put them into use under their own name or trademark (e.g. entities that develop AI solutions for recruitment and make them available for use by their customers for a fee).
  2. Users of AI systems, i.e., individuals or legal entities, public authorities, agencies or other entities that use AI systems under their control (e.g. customers of the above entities who implement such AI solutions for recruitment in their own organizations for the purpose of improving the recruitment process), except when AI systems are used in personal, non-professional activities (i.e. non-professional activities).

What kind of AI Literacy to hold

AI Act does not point to any specific types of literacy, it delineates three basic categories of such competencies that should be developed by suppliers and users of AI systems. These are competencies in the area of:

  1. abilities (i.e. expanding practical knowledge of AI and applying this knowledge to daily practice);
  2. knowledge (i.e. expanding theoretical knowledge of AI);
  3. understanding (i.e. the ability to understand how AI works and how it affects the processes in which AI is used, e.g. the ability to apply the knowledge one has in practice to non-standard or non-obvious situations where the AI system will use false data or suggest biases).

All three of these areas should, in principle, be included in the organization's development and learning objectives.

How to meet AI Literacy requirements

Since any regulation of AI is only in its infancy and all practices are beginning to form, a so-called AI Pact was also concluded with the passage of the AI Act. It was signed by more than 100 international companies that pledge to voluntarily promote the trustworthy and safe development of AI systems.

Among the organizations that have signed the AI Pact are the SME sector, as well as huge multinational corporations. Among them are: OpenAI, Accenture, Adobe, Amazon, Booking.com, Capgemini, Cisco, DEKRA, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, eBay, Google, Microsoft, HP, Infsosys, IKEA, Logitech, Lenovo, Allianz, Generali, Porsche, Palo Alto Networks, Salesforce, SAP, Samsung, SAS Institute, Scania, Sii czy Vodafone. The full list of companies participating in AI Act is published at the link.

AI Pact is based on two main pillars,i.e.:

  1. Pillar 1 (Pillar I): gathering and sharing knowledge within the AI Pact networ k;
  2. Pillar 2 (Pillar) II: support in the implementation of companies' AI commitments and open communication in this area.

The implementation of Pillar 1 will be based on webinars organised by AI Pact. Did you miss the webinars? You can still watch all recordings here: link.

During the latest webinar, the repository of AI literacy practices created by AI Pact members was discussed. The repository is available at the link. It includes comments from dozens of companies at three different stages of AI practice implementation, i.e. fully implemented, under implementation and planned.

First implementations of AI Literacy

Among the companies that have already fully implemented the first organizational practices related to AI literacy are Booking.com and the Generali Group, among others.

Booking.com has implemented training provided for employees who have less direct contact with AI (employees working in legal services and dealing with the company's public affairs). As the description reads: “We designed the training in three parts, the first of which defined the basics of AI to ensure that everyone would use the same terms for the same problems or technologies and understand the differences between AI and ML concepts (such as what LLM is versus classical machine learning). We then moved on to specific AI solutions dedicated to our company and analyzed their basic concepts, and then part three included an analysis of the regulatory environment around AI and how it relates to the branches of law that team members already deal with. This highly specialized training meant that the members of the legal team engaged more deeply than they would have done with simply technical training.”.

The Generali Group, on the other hand, has focused on broader training in its learning platform, where a large portfolio of training sessions tailored to engage employees in the use or development of AI systems is offered. In addition, the Group has also implemented so-called “academies” for specific jobs where employees can have increased exposure to AI systems (i.e. Data Scientists, AI Business Translators, Smart Automation Experts, Actuaries, Accountants and CRM Experts).

The Generali Group has also seen a great deal of positive repercussions from the implemented AI training. About 40% of participants noticed an evolution in their role after completing the training programs. Thanks to the skills acquired through the program, more than 18 new market services have been launched, and partnerships have been established with external universities and research centers, increasing knowledge and innovation in machine learning, data science and artificial intelligence.

In most cases, for the time being, AI Pact members are making training sessions available to their employees or creating internal codes of conduct (AI Code of Conduct).

In contrast, under Pillar 2, companies will create sets of voluntary commitments that encourage organizations to work proactively to implement some of the key provisions of the AI Act.

New responsibilities for companies

It is definitely worthwhile to already start taking an interest in the AI Act and the implications of its implementation. This year, it takes effect only to a limited extent. As of February 2, 2025, the ban on so-called “prohibited AI systems” and the need to develop AI Literacy comes into effect. On the other hand, as of August 2, 2025, there will be criminal sanctions and regulations on general-purpose AI systems entering into force.

As of August 2, 2026, the AI Act will take full effect. This will impose obligations on the following groups:

  • Providers of AI systems
  • Deployers using AI systems
  • Importers of AI systems
  • Distributors of AI systems
  • Authorized representatives of suppliers of AI systems
  • AI system manufacturers (who, with their product, market or put into service an AI system bearing their trade name or trademark)
  • AI system operators (a collective term for all of the above categories)

In its broadest scope, the AI Act will apply to the first two groups, namely AI system providers and AI deployers. Depending on the category of AI system, these entities may have different obligations.

In view of the aforementioned, it is advisable to start considering the following measures now:

  1. Familiarizing all your employees to the concept of AI and AI Act regulations (with adaptation of the transferred knowledge to, among others, age, position held and duties performed, general knowledge, sensitivity to AI, professional competences, as well as professional responsibility)
  2. Mechanisms for categorizing AI systems in the context of the AI Act
  3. Mechanisms to ensure the safe development and use of AI systems with a focus on the user and his safety
  4. Establishing internal AI governance structures
  5. Establishing roles and internal responsibilities related to AI management
  6. Introduction of mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and auditing AI systems.

We encourage you to follow our blog and the latest news from the world of AI regulation. In our next post, we will touch on the eligibility of AI systems to the so-called prohibited systems.