Artificial intelligence is no longer something distant or experimental. More and more companies in Europe are using it in their daily work, and the data confirms this: by 2024, more than 10% of European companies had already incorporated AI into their processes. This expansion of AI, along with its impact on traditional and emerging sectors, has led the European Union to place AI literacy at the heart of its strategy.
At the end of this post you will have all the keys about what AI literacy is and why it will start appearing in companies and training immediately.
What is AI literacy (in plain language)
Artificial intelligence literacy refers to the ability to understand how AI systems work and how to use them responsibly. In this sense, the European Union defines this literacy as practical knowledge that allows for informed interaction with the technology, regardless of whether one is a technical expert.
Ultimately, the goal is for people to be able to recognize when they are encountering an AI system, understand its limitations, and be able to assess its impact in real-world contexts. This vision aligns directly with the AI Act , legislation that regulates the technology and how it is used in professional and educational settings.
It’s not about “learning to use ChatGPT”: it’s about using AI with sound judgment and security
AI literacy isn’t about mastering a specific tool; in fact, Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2025 shows that over 40 relevant AI models were launched in 2024 alone. The European Commission focuses on the responsible use of technology, especially in work and educational settings, with the aim of identifying risks and preventing misuse.
Why is the EU bringing this up now?
The European Union is promoting AI literacy as a result of the AI Act , whose obligations will begin to take effect in 2025. The EU operates on a clear premise: a regulated technology can only be applied correctly if the people working with it have the appropriate knowledge. Therefore, AI literacy is becoming a cross-cutting requirement that will affect both businesses and educational settings.
What is the AI Act and who does it affect?
The AI Act is the first European legal framework regulating the use of artificial intelligence and, moreover, the first comprehensive and binding legislation on AI worldwide. The European Commission presented its proposal in April 2021 , with the aim of anticipating the impact of AI and establishing common rules before its use became widespread and uncontrolled.
Risk and obligation level approach
The AI Act classifies artificial intelligence systems into risk levels and assigns different obligations to each level according to its potential impact:
- Unacceptable risk , its use is prohibited as it violates fundamental rights.
- High risk , its use is permitted under strict controls and human supervision.
- Limited risk , its use requires transparency in interaction with people.
- Minimal risk , can be used without new legal obligations and corresponds to most common applications.
User companies, suppliers and training centers
The AI Act not only regulates technology, it also assigns responsibilities to those who develop and teach how to work with artificial intelligence.
- User companies : must understand and apply AI according to risk and train their teams.
- Suppliers : will assume technical and control obligations according to the type of system.
- Training centers : will have to integrate AI literacy and responsible use criteria.
What does AI literacy imply?
The AI Act introduces AI literacy as a practical obligation, not as a theoretical concept intended to be realistically adapted to the context of use.
“Sufficient” training according to roles and uses
The European Union does not require the same training for everyone. The level of AI literacy should be tailored to each person’s role and the type of AI system they use. For example, someone who designs and implements complex systems needs a deeper understanding, while someone who uses them in their daily work would only need to understand their limitations, risks, and effects.
Evidence: policies, guidelines and training records
The European framework promotes concrete measures to develop this literacy:
- Internal AI usage policies: documents that define how AI can be used within the organization and in what contexts it is not appropriate.
- Guides and training materials
- Training actions registered with courses or training with mandatory attendance.
- Supervisory procedures to see that the AI-generated material is corrected when it is incorrect.
- Clear assignment of responsibilities
Why you’ll see it in companies and training
Organizations need to demonstrate that they understand what technology they use and how it affects people, processes, and decisions.
Massive use of AI tools + risk management
The use of AI tools has become commonplace in the daily operations of businesses and is present in most tasks. This constant presence makes it necessary to fully understand the tool’s limitations and review its results before relying on them. That’s why AI literacy is becoming crucial.
- It allows you to use technology more judiciously.
- Prevent automated use from affecting the quality of work in real-world contexts.
Requirements in purchasing, compliance, HR and education
The AI Act changes the way organizations work with AI and forces them to look beyond the technology.
- Purchasing : it’s not enough to just hire a tool, now you have to know where it comes from, how it works and whether it complies with regulations.
- Compliance : the company must be able to demonstrate that it uses AI responsibly and that there are clear rules for doing so.
- Human resources : teams need practical training to understand what they can and cannot ask AI to do.
- Education and training : preparing people to work with AI without losing judgment or responsibility becomes key.
What to do right now (minimum plan)
Below, we have provided a plan that outlines the minimum requirements to align with the European framework on AI literacy:
Inventory of uses + basic AI policy
- Map of real uses: identify where AI is used in the organization and for what specific purpose.
- Clear usage guidelines: define which uses are acceptable and in which cases AI should not be used. For example, a good use would be to employ AI to draft internal documents or summarize long documents with human oversight.
Training plan by profiles + verification checklist
AI training should be tailored to each individual’s work style and the tools they use. Not everyone needs the same level of expertise, but everyone does need a common framework that ensures responsible and compliant use.
- Identify the profile and its relationship with AI to adjust the necessary training level.
- Explain the basic operation of the system used on a daily basis.
- Clarify the limits and real risks associated with that specific use.
- Define when human review is mandatory before applying a result.
Verify understanding through a simple, documented check.