Do you need an AI-literacy certificate? No. Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 sets an obligation to adopt measures to support AI literacy. That is not an obligation of individual result. There is no single official EU literacy course, no single mandatory European exam, and no official European literacy certificate.

This page explains what Article 4 covers, who it may potentially apply to, and where to start. The official source is Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Article 4: EUR-Lex (ELI). We do not reproduce the statutory text. Definitions: AI Act glossary.

What AI literacy means under Article 4

Article 4 sets an obligation to adopt measures to support AI literacy. Measures must take into account technical knowledge, experience, education and training. They must consider the context in which AI systems are used. The persons or groups on whom the systems are used must also be considered.

That does not mean every organisation must carry out a fundamental-rights impact assessment. Classifying a concrete case requires review.

Article 4 applies to providers and deployers of AI systems. Determine first whether the organisation falls into those categories. Using ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini at work does not automatically make every company an AI provider.

What it is not (and why that matters)

  • Article 4 does not require guaranteeing a specific literacy level for any individual. That does not remove the duty to adopt measures.
  • The AI Act does not establish a single official AI-literacy course. That must not be read as “any training is enough”.
  • Article 4 does not set a general minimum training duration. Adequacy depends on context.
  • Article 4 does not establish a single mandatory European exam.
  • Article 4 does not establish an official European literacy certificate.

Legal Stones’ AI-literacy training is at CursoAIAct.

If the team already pastes contracts, payroll or reports into a chatbot, the practical account is in your team already uses AI. Training is at Curso AI Act.

Calendar: the literacy duty remains

Since 2 February 2025, prohibited practices and the duty to adopt AI-literacy measures have been applicable. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 (Digital Omnibus) postpones certain duties for some high-risk systems in Annex III and replaces Article 4. The duty to take measures to support literacy remains. The current text makes clear that it does not require guaranteeing a specific level of AI literacy of any individual. The full calendar is in the 2026 AI Act guide.

Measures adapted to context

Literacy measures must be adapted to context. Pasting client emails into free ChatGPT is not the same as internal use of an enterprise plan with written rules. Legal Stones’ initial AI-use diagnosis is methodology. It is not a mandatory AI Act procedure.

A company AI use policy can be a recommended measure to write down tools, uses and information. It is not, by itself, “the Article 4 obligation” or an official EU document.

Documenting the measures

Legal Stones can generate a documentary file of the measures adopted. The file records the actions: training, inventory, policy. It is organised evidence of what the company has done.

If Legal Stones or CursoAIAct issues a certificate, it attests completion of the training activity indicated.

Legal Stones may recommend periodic reviews of literacy measures. An annual review is a Legal Stones recommendation, not a general periodicity imposed by Article 4.

AI Act and GDPR together

The AI Act applies alongside other relevant EU rules, including data protection. Look at the AI Act and the GDPR together. Pasting client data into an AI tool may involve processing of personal data: review it in your company’s context.

Where to start

Legal Stones helps companies adopt and document AI-literacy measures adapted to their context. AI-literacy training oriented to Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689: CursoAIAct.

The first step is usually to see real use: five questions. If the signal is critical or moderate, the next step is the Assessment. If the provider contract is already on the table, contract review.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need an AI-literacy certificate?

No. Article 4 does not establish an official European literacy certificate. A Legal Stones certificate, if issued, attests completion of a training activity. It is not an official EU certificate.

Does Article 4 require a specific EU course?

No. The AI Act does not establish a single official AI-literacy course. Nor a general minimum duration, nor a single mandatory European exam. Training can be a measure. It is not the only one. It must be adapted to context.

Who does Article 4 apply to?

Providers and deployers of AI systems. Determine first whether the organisation falls into those categories. Not every company that uses ChatGPT is an AI provider.

Must every employee reach a minimum level?

Article 4 does not require guaranteeing a specific literacy level for any individual. That does not remove the duty to adopt measures to support AI literacy.

Must training be renewed every year by law?

No. An annual review is a Legal Stones recommendation, not a general periodicity imposed by Article 4.

CursoAIAct: AI literacy training →

Does your company use ChatGPT? 5 questions →

Company AI use policy (recommended measure) →

AI Act for companies: 2026–2028 guide →

ChatGPT with client data →

Sources

This page links those sources. It does not reproduce the statutory text and it does not classify a specific case.