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Guide Β· AI literacy Β· 2026

AI literacy training: what Article 4 of the EU AI Act asks now

Article 4 of the EU AI Act was rewritten with effect from 27 July 2026. This page sets out the current text with official sources, what changed, and a practical, role-based plan for AI literacy training.

✍️ By Prashant Shinde πŸ“š Official EU sources πŸ“… Updated 27 September 2026 ⏱ 8 min read
In short: Article 4 of the EU AI Act has applied since 2 February 2025. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 replaced it from 27 July 2026: providers and deployers of AI systems must now take measures to support the development of AI literacy of their staff, and the duty does not require any specific level. The European Commission says no certificate is needed. Training such as ICP-FAI supports your Article 4 measures; it does not replace them.

What Article 4 says now

Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, known as the Digital Omnibus on AI, was adopted on 8 July 2026, published in the Official Journal on 24 July 2026, and entered into force on the third day after publication: 27 July 2026. It replaced Article 4 of the AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, with three paragraphs:

  1. The duty. Providers and deployers of AI systems must "take measures to support the development of AI literacy of their staff" and of other people who operate or use AI systems on their behalf. The measures take account of people's technical knowledge, experience, education and training, the context the AI systems are used in, and the people they are used on. The duty does not require providers or deployers to guarantee any specific level of AI literacy for any individual.
  2. Support. The Commission and the Member States support providers and deployers, in particular SMEs. The Commission publishes practical examples of how to meet the duty on the AI Act's single information platform.
  3. Recommendations. The AI Board adopts recommendations, taking account of European competence frameworks, to promote AI literacy.

The date did not move. Chapters I and II of the AI Act, which include Article 4, apply from 2 February 2025.

Sources: Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, Article 1(5) and Article 4; Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 113.

What changed on 27 July 2026

PointBefore 27 July 2026From 27 July 2026
The dutyTake measures to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacyTake measures to support the development of AI literacy
Required levelA sufficient level, to their best extentNo specific level required for any individual
SupportNot set out in the articleCommission and Member States support providers and deployers, especially SMEs, with practical examples
Who it coversProviders and deployers of AI systemsUnchanged
Applies from2 February 2025Unchanged

In plain terms, it is now a duty to take proportionate measures rather than a duty to reach a level. It still applies to every provider and deployer of AI systems, whatever the risk class. Guides written before 27 July 2026 quote the old wording, so check the date on anything you rely on.

What the European Commission's Q&A says

Source: European Commission, AI literacy questions and answers (updated 27 July 2026).

Four questions to answer before you plan

The new Article 4 names the factors that measures should take into account. Turned into planning questions:

  1. Which AI systems do you provide or deploy? List the tools and systems in use, including general assistants staff use at work.
  2. Who operates or uses them on your behalf? Staff, and other people such as contractors who deal with the systems for you.
  3. What do those people already know? Their technical knowledge, experience, education and training.
  4. Where, and on whom, are the systems used? The context of use, and the people or groups the systems are used on.

The answers tell you which groups need what, which is the plan below.

A proportionate AI literacy plan by role

Article 4 asks for measures that fit your people and how they use AI. This is how we suggest structuring training. It is training guidance, not legal advice.

GroupWhat they needCourse
Everyone who uses AI tools at workWhat AI is and is not, safe use, your own AI policyAI for Everyone (1 day) or ICP-FAI (14 hours, certified)
Frequent usersHands-on practice with the assistants you useGenerative AI Mastery (2 days), Prompt Engineering Practitioner (1 day)
LeadersWhere AI creates and destroys value, what to fund and what to governAI for Leaders and Executives (1 day)
Policy, risk and compliance ownersThe policy and control environment for AI useAI Governance, Ethics and Responsible Use (1 day)
People who build or configure AIAgents, automations and internal assistantsAgentic AI and Autonomous Workflows, Custom GPTs and Knowledge Bots, AI-Assisted Software Development (2 days each)
FunctionsAI practice in their own workHR, finance and risk, sales and marketing (2 days each)
Internal trainersSustaining adoption after the first waveTrain-the-Trainer: Facilitating AI Adoption (2 days)

What to keep on record

The Commission says an internal record is enough. A simple one covers:

This list is our suggestion, not a legal template. ICP-FAI leads to an ICAgile credential, and our other courses award an Agile Visa Certificate of Completion, which you can file with that record.

Where ICP-FAI fits

ICP-FAI, ICAgile Foundations of AI, is our certified foundation: 14 hours of live, instructor-led training and a lifetime credential with no renewal fee. You can book seats on public cohorts, priced per seat and shown in your local currency on the course page, or run it as a private cohort for a whole team.

Financial services: DORA adds its own training duty

EU financial entities also fall under DORA. Its Article 13(6) makes ICT security awareness programmes and digital operational resilience training compulsory modules in staff training for all employees and senior management. That is a separate duty from AI literacy. See training for banks, insurers and financial firms.

Source: Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA).

Training supports your measures. It does not replace them.

No course can meet the Article 4 duty on its own. A sensible approach combines an AI use policy, training matched to each role, and a record of both. Our part is the training and the record of who completed it. For legal advice on your own obligations, speak to your advisers.

How the training runs

Every course is live and instructor-led, never a recorded lecture. Private cohorts run online across sites and time zones, or on site by arrangement. Delivered in English. Trainers for Arabic, Spanish, Bahasa Malaysia, German or French can be arranged for company cohorts on request. To buy for a team, see how to buy.

Frequently asked questions

Is AI literacy training mandatory under the EU AI Act?

Article 4 requires providers and deployers of AI systems to take measures to support the AI literacy of their staff. Training is the usual measure, but the article does not prescribe a format, and it does not require any specific level of AI literacy.

Do staff need an AI literacy certificate?

No. The European Commission's questions and answers on AI literacy say no certificate is needed, and an internal record of the training you provide is enough.

What changed in July 2026?

Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 replaced Article 4 from 27 July 2026. The duty changed from taking measures to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy to taking measures to support its development, with no specific level required. The application date, 2 February 2025, did not change.

Who does Article 4 apply to?

Providers and deployers of AI systems, whatever the risk class of the system. It covers their staff and other people who operate or use AI systems on their behalf.

When do national authorities start supervising Article 4?

According to the European Commission, national authorities supervise the AI literacy rule from August 2026.

Will your training meet our Article 4 duty on its own?

No training course can do that on its own. Our training supports your Article 4 measures and gives you a record of who learned what, and when.

Which course should all staff take first?

For a whole workforce, AI for Everyone (one day, private cohort). Where you want a certified foundation, ICP-FAI (14 hours live, lifetime ICAgile credential), bookable per seat or as a private cohort.

Last updated: 27 September 2026. Agile Visa is an ICAgile Member Organisation. 75,000+ professionals trained across 140+ countries since 2017.

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