23.6.2025
The AI Literacy (AI-L) provisions set out in Article 4 of the AI Act officially entered into force in February 2025. These provisions establish a mandatory requirement for AI system providers and deployers to ensure their staff to gain an adequate level of knowledge regarding the operation and use of such systems.

While the concept of AI-L originates in educational literature where it has been defined in various ways with some mutual elements, this marks the first formal embedding of the term into legislation. Several scales have been proposed to measure AI-L level, typically outlining competencies or competences necessary for both professionals and non-professionals to meaningfully engage with AI technologies.The term is highly relevant to AI ethics, risk and benefit assessments, and strategies that could improve persons‘ understanding on AI systems.

Despite the legal recognition of AI-L, guidelines for interpretation and practice remain limited. To date, the AI Office has held only one webinar on the subject, and although a „living repository“ of private-sector AI-L practices has been published, broader and more structured efforts are lacking. The current legal framework does not impose financial penalties for noncompliance, nor does it designate a clear authority to oversee enforcement. Moreover, AI-L could have been more fully integrated with other guiding principles in the Act, such as explainability, transparency, and human oversight.

This webinar will critically examine these issues, offering legal and practical insights into the role of AI-L in the AI Act. It will also provide recommendations and share experiences to support the meaningful development and application of AI literacy.

Speakers:

  • Gizem Gültekin-Várkonyi, Assistant professor, University of Szeged
  • Benedikt Quarch, AI-Entrepreneur & Lawyer, Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Ramak Molavi Vasse’i, AI Governance Researcher & Advisor (Human in Command), Digital Rights Lawyer
  • Elora Fernandes, Postdoctoral Researcher, KU Leuven Centre for IT and IP Law (CiTiP) – imec

Moderator:  Martin Ebers, President, RAILS