Designing an AI literacy program

AI literacy is one of the first provisions of the EU AI Act to enter into force. It therefore warrants early consideration and planning. After an organization has assessed its AI literacy needs, the next step is to design a comprehensive AI literacy program. The goal is to meet legal obligations and foster a culture of responsible AI use that supports compliance, innovation and commercial strategy.

Why a structured AI literacy program is necessary

Organizations must ensure their staff and other individuals involved in the production, deployment or use of AI systems possess a sufficient level of AI literacy. This literacy must be proportional to their role, technical knowledge and the context in which the AI systems are being produced or deployed. Without a well-designed program, AI literacy efforts risk being fragmented, insufficient or misaligned with the organization's actual needs.

A systematic approach enables organizations to manage AI-related risks through consistent training standards, achieve scalability in delivery and track outcomes for compliance purposes. Moreover, a well-structured program allows for better integration with existing compliance efforts while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Step 1: Define learning objectives and outcomes