For those of you who are like me, when I first heard about the new EU AI Act, I had flashbacks to the implementation of the General Data Protection Act (GDPR) back in 2018. There are certainly a lot of similarities with the EU leading the way in consumer protections that will likely lead to more, similar legislation across the globe.
I’m also reminded of the iPhone when it was introduced in the consumer market and bled into the workplace (I for one held onto my Blackberry for as long as I could). Even when AI isn’t fully embraced by many organizations or they have flat out banned it, Shadow AI is making its way into their networks.
So if you haven’t heard about it, the European Union has taken a landmark step with the EU AI Act—the world's first comprehensive AI regulatory framework. Just as the GDPR led the way in data privacy and security, this new EU AI Act will do the same for AI utilization. Among its many provisions, one stands out: the legal mandate for AI literacy training. The provisions of this act go into effect for literacy and prohibited systems on the 2nd of February 2026 (yes, this year) with many of the other provisions coming into effect in August.
What forward-thinking organizations have discovered through practice, regulators have now codified into law: AI literacy is not optional. The EU AI Act transforms what was once considered a business best practice into a mandatory compliance requirement with substantial penalties for non-compliance.
As AI regulations evolve, organizations face a complex web of compliance obligations. The most effective approach to AI literacy goes beyond checking boxes—it integrates cybersecurity awareness with regulatory requirements like the EU AI Act and GDPR, while grounding teams in principles of responsible AI use under European law. Like GDPR, the EU AI Act applies to any organization that deploys AI systems affecting people in the EU, regardless of where your business is located. The regulation takes full effect this August (2026), and similar frameworks are already being developed globally, so even if you do not do business in the EU, comparable requirements are likely headed to your jurisdiction soon.
Adopt and Implement an AI Literacy Training Program
Training addresses the foundational knowledge required under Article 4 of the EU AI Act, designed to be accessible for organizations ranging from startups to non-profits to large multinational organizations:
Employees learn what AI actually is, moving beyond the hype to understand both the transformative opportunities and potential risks these technologies present. They learn about what tools are approved and banned within the organization as well as proper usage of those tools.
The training also provides a clear explanation of your organization’s legal requirements under this regulation to ensure everyone understands the compliance landscape. Teams will learn how AI systems are categorized by risk level, helping them identify which applications require heightened scrutiny and controls. Beyond just legal obligations, this builds a culture of responsible AI use by addressing essential topics like bias, fairness, transparency, and accountability in every deployment and decision.
Practical Application Training
Beyond foundational knowledge, training should provide hands-on guidance for everyday AI use, starting with how to use approved chatbots responsibly. This includes comprehensive training on working with conversational tools like ChatGPT while navigating EU AI Act and GDPR implications. Employees learn essential data protection considerations and best practices, ranging from crafting effective prompts to handling generated text safely.
As visual AI tools become ubiquitous, the training also covers how to use image generation responsibly by addressing copyright considerations, appropriate business use cases, and critical regulatory implications. Finally, we provide specialized guidance for HR professionals and managers on the unique challenges and opportunities of AI in recruitment, performance management, and employee relations, as these are areas of particular regulatory sensitivity.
Meeting Your Article 4 Obligations
Ensure your program is designed to help you:
- Meet regulatory requirements under Article 4 of the EU AI Act through documented, systematic training
- Build demonstrable competency across your workforce
- Maintain documentation for compliance auditing
- Scale training efficiently across diverse teams and roles
- Stay current as AI technologies and regulations evolve
Your program should also include the flexibility to incorporate your organization's policies and procedures, helping to bridge the gap between general AI literacy and your internal governance frameworks. It should also be, just like other modern cybersecurity and compliance programs, ongoing and not just annual training. Research has shown that people forget about training after 3-4 months, and with new tools and technology evolving quickly, it’s important to work AI compliance into your monthly or quarterly training plan.
Conclusion
AI literacy among the workforce is now a legal requirement, not a discretionary investment. Organizations must implement structured training programs, maintain documentary evidence of compliance, and ensure ongoing competency development appropriate to their AI system deployments.
Effective AI literacy training should address regulatory requirements, provide practical application guidance, and account for the specific considerations relevant to organizations operating under European law and other laws passed and enacted in other jurisdictions.
The era of voluntary AI education initiatives has ended. European organizations, among other global organizations, must now demonstrate compliance with their respective laws through documented, systematic, and ongoing AI literacy training programs. This means continuous AI learning is built into your cybersecurity awareness and compliance training programs.
To learn more about KnowBe4’s AI Compliance training offering, please visit www.knowbe4.com or get in touch with your Customer Success Manager to speak to one of our regional content specialists on creating a bespoke training campaign.
FYI - Countries that have implemented AI laws: https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltd4dd5b2d705252bc/blt60985c546e32b1ed/global_ai_law_policy_tracker_map_alt.png
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