On 2 February 2025, many businesses with commercial activities in the European Union must ensure their staff demonstrate a mandatory level of literacy in artificial intelligence (AI). For businesses without adequate provisions, Shoosmiths is here to help.
Under Article 4 of the EU AI Act, anyone using an AI system for commercial activities in the EU (intentionally or otherwise) may fall within the scope of the regulation. This includes those supplying an AI-enhanced product or service either to consumers in the EU or to a business which has an EU presence and plans to use it there.
If caught by the provisions, staff and others operating systems on their behalf will need to have a sufficient level of AI literacy to make “an informed deployment” of AI systems.
Non-compliance risks include reputational damage, contractual liabilities and in time, regulatory penalties. Risks will increase over time as non-compliant output attracts complaints from clients, staff, or content creators.
What to do now
To ensure holistic compliance, companies are encouraged to review their preparations for the February 2025 deadline as soon as possible.
It is important to recognise that “literacy” implies actionable knowledge which requires staff to apply insights effectively rather than simply recite regulatory requirements.
Many companies will need to develop tailored programmes since the training standards must take into account technical knowledge, experience, education and training, and the proposed use of the system in question, so generic training options may be inadequate. Teams using recruitment tools or other potential high-risk AI systems are likely to need more intensive training, including on the role of human oversight.
AI literacy training from Shoosmiths and more
As one of the few firms to offer an in-house eLearning platform, Shoosmiths is supporting organisations to design and deliver bespoke AI literacy programmes that align with the requirements of Article 4 of the EU AI Act.
Our AI literacy solution is part of AI Comply, a multi-disciplinary toolkit launched in October 2024 to assist clients with every aspect of AI legal compliance. In addition to our literacy modules, AI Comply offers a gateway to the latest AI and data protection legal advice, compliance consulting and a market-leading AI Governance software platform developed through an exclusive collaboration with industry leaders Enzai.
Contact us today
As a trial candidate law firm for Microsoft’s Copilot initiative, Shoosmiths knows first-hand the importance of deploying AI models backed up by the necessary literacy training, advice and governance support.
Our team is now uniquely placed to help you capitalise on this transformatory technology in safe and compliant manner.
Find out how we can support your AI compliance journey.
Disclaimer
This information is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. Please contact us for specific advice on your circumstances. © Shoosmiths LLP 2025.