Art. 4 AI literacy | AI act regulation | AI act

This article establishes an AI literacy obligation on providers and deployers of AI systems.

Rather than mandating a specific outcome, it requires that both providers and deployers actively take measures to develop AI literacy among their staff and any other persons involved in operating or using AI systems on their behalf.

The article is complemented by supporting roles assigned to the Commission, Member States, and the Board, each of whom must contribute to facilitating this literacy drive across the Union.

Important points:

Providers and deployers must take measures to support AI literacy among staff and others involved in operating or using AI systems, though they are not required to guarantee any specific level of literacy for any individual.
The Commission and Member States are required to support and facilitate these efforts, in particular for SMEs, including by publishing practical compliance examples on the single information platform.
The Board is required to adopt recommendations, taking into account European competence frameworks, to support the Commission and Member States in promoting AI literacy and setting common objectives.

In order to obtain the greatest benefits from AI systems while protecting fundamental rights, health and safety and to enable democratic control, AI literacy should equip providers, deployers and affected persons with the necessary notions to make informed decisions regarding AI systems. Those notions may vary with regard to the relevant context and can include understanding the correct application of technical elements during the AI system’s development phase, the measures to be applied during its use, the suitable ways in which to interpret the AI system’s output, and, in the case of affected persons, the knowledge necessary to understand how decisions taken with the assistance of AI will have an impact on them. In the context of the application this Regulation, AI literacy should provide all relevant actors in the AI value chain with the insights required to ensure the appropriate compliance and its correct enforcement. Furthermore, the wide implementation of AI literacy measures and the introduction of appropriate follow-up actions could contribute to improving working conditions and ultimately sustain the consolidation, and innovation path of trustworthy AI in the Union. The European Artificial Intelligence Board (the ‘Board’) should support the Commission, to promote AI literacy tools, public awareness and understanding of the benefits, risks, safeguards, rights and obligations in relation to the use of AI systems. In cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, the Commission and the Member States should facilitate the drawing up of voluntary codes of conduct to advance AI literacy among persons dealing with the development, operation and use of AI.

Article 4 AI literacy

Relevant recitals