Practitioner's note: This article is practice-oriented compliance documentation, not legal advice. We are a compliance specialist, not a law firm. For legally binding information please consult a licensed lawyer.
TL;DR
Article 4 EU AI Act requires providers and deployers to take measures to ensure that their staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf have a 'sufficient level of AI literacy'. Obligation in force since 02/02/2025 — no transition period.
What is AI Literacy (Article 4 EU AI Act)?
Mandatory content of an AI literacy training (according to EU Commission Q&A 05/2025):
AI definition + structure of the EU AI Act
Risk classification (Article 6, Annex III)
Prohibited practices (Article 5)
Transparency obligations (Article 50)
Specific risks in the respective deployment context
Human oversight / automation bias (Article 14)
No minimum duration in the regulation. Industry standard: 2-4 hours of basic training + role-specific deep dive. With quiz and certificate.
Practical example
Practical implementation:
- Online module with 40 slides + 30-question quiz
- Mandatory for everyone using AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, etc.)
- Including: working students and external consultants
- Annual refresher recommended
- Documentation in training register
Frequently asked questions
Who must be trained?
All persons coming into contact with AI systems — including working students, external consultants, contractors. Not: customers of the company.
How long must the training be?
The regulation does not prescribe a duration. Industry standard: 2-4 hours of basic training. Supervisory authority recommendation: scale role-specifically.
What fines apply for missing training?
Article 4 is not directly subject to fines. HOWEVER: in case of damage caused by insufficiently trained staff, GDPR fines, liability risk, and Anti-Discrimination Act (AGG) liability may apply.