The AI Act forces organizations to increase their AI knowledge

The answer lies in AI literacy: the ability to understand, critically evaluate, and ethically apply AI systems. And that's exactly where the problem lies, warns Maarten Timmerman, CEO of Awareways.

"AI literacy' still receives too little attention, even though it's important not only for compliance but also for the future viability of an organization."

According to him, organizations with employees who have low AI literacy risk not only acting in violation of regulations but also losing their competitive position.

AI is no longer the exclusive domain of data scientists and IT teams; the technology is permeating every level of an organization, from the boardroom to customer service. And we are only at the beginning of the AI revolution. In practice, many organizations are already struggling with a fundamental understanding of AI and the procedures for its use.

According to Maarten Timmerman, AI literacy still receives insufficient attention in many organizations, even though AI systems are already being used on a large scale.

“There’s a clear parallel with digital literacy, which only truly got on the agenda after the GDPR was strengthened in 2016, as it is a crucial prerequisite for secure work. By proactively investing in AI literacy now, organizations can prevent themselves from playing catch-up and prepare in time for the impact of AI.”

At several of its clients, Awareways is seeing the first concrete questions emerge, and the initial AI literacy programs have already been launched.

The growing use of AI within organizations demands a broad and constant focus on AI literacy. Now, more than ever, organizations must ensure their employees understand how AI works and how they can use it responsibly. But where do you start?

• Develop a multi-year plan at the board level to systematically work towards a sustainable level of AI literacy.

• Map out the current level of AI literacy within the workforce.

• Conduct a risk assessment and identify which AI systems are being used and how. Be aware of the use of shadow AI.

• Start by building a general foundational level of AI literacy and train your entire organization.

• Then, offer specific training tailored to roles and risk profiles, based on desired behaviors and the risks involved.

At Awareways, we don't just support organizations in complying with the AI Act; we also ensure that people learn to work with digital skills and security. This creates a culture where employees know exactly what they are doing and why.

Awareways ensures your employees aren't just compliant with the AI Act but also actively contribute to the safe and ethical use of AI systems and models.

Before starting training, it's useful to administer a thematic culture scan questionnaire about AI. This makes it clear what employees' current attitudes toward AI are.

Our culture scan measures attitude, knowledge level, and the willingness to embrace AI. This way, you can determine the right strategy for implementing training.

With the results, you can select targeted micro-learnings, identify (and mitigate) risks, and measure the effectiveness of your program. Awareways makes behavioral change measurable, so you can continuously improve and optimally prepare your employees for the use of AI.

To contact an expert, email info@awareways.com.