Prepare your employees for the EU AI Act 

The need for AI regulations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the name of the tech game. It's everywhere, and it's moving fast. But, with fast-moving progress comes questions about safety, ethics, and a need for guidelines. And that's where the EU AI Act comes in. It's the first law of its kind internationally, making sure that AI is developed and used in a way that's not just smart, but also safe and fair. 

And here's the thing: This Act isn't just a law to follow. It's a roadmap for businesses to build a solid foundation of AI know-how and ethical standards.  

In this article, we'll walk through the key points of the EU AI Act, and why sticking to it is so important. We’ll then share some tips on how to get your team trained on all things AI, so you're not just playing by the rules, you’re leading the industry in innovation. Curious to know more? Let's dive in. 

What's the EU AI Act? 

The EU AI Act is the first of its kind, and a blueprint for the rest of the world on regulating AI systems. This law, governing AI in the European Union, ensures these systems are developed and used in a way that protects fundamental rights like privacy and non-discrimination. For example, it's not always possible to find out why an AI system has made a decision or prediction and taken a particular action. It makes it difficult to assess whether someone has been unfairly disadvantaged, like in a hiring process or an application for a public benefit scheme. While most AI systems pose limited risk and can contribute to solving many societal challenges, some AI systems produce undesirable outcomes. 

The EU AI Act lays the groundwork for a responsible and ethical AI environment with some strict rules for transparency and accountability. While this law will only be applicable within the EU market (for now), we can be sure that similar legislation will roll out across the globe in time. 

Why should you care about the EU AI Act? 

The EU AI Act focuses on categorizing AI systems deployed and used in the EU according to their risk levels.  

These systems will be assessed and deemed to be either minimal, limited, high, or unacceptable risk. Importantly, the Act also highlights the need for AI awareness and literacy. By spelling out clear rules and expectations, it's pushing companies to invest in training and education for their teams. This is particularly important for HR and L&D leaders, who must ensure their workforce can understand and apply ethical AI practices.  

Article 4 of Chapter 1 makes it clear that employee training should be a priority for all businesses. This isn't just about following the law — it's about building a workforce that truly gets the ethical and technical ins and outs of AI. And that's a big deal for creating a future where AI is a force for good. By following the Act, you can prove to key stakeholders that your organization is approaching AI use ethically. You’re building trust with transparency and accountability. 

The consequences of non-compliance with the EU AI Act are significant. Businesses that fail to meet the Act’s requirements could face reputational damage and fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher. So, here’s the bottom line: By getting ahead of the game and making compliance a priority, you’re not just avoiding risks but also reaping the rewards of being a responsible innovator.

How to train your employees on AI 

While it's important to get your team up to speed on the EU AI Act, the new law doesn't outline what exactly this means. It asks employers to ensure adequate 'AI literacy' for employees, but with no specifics on required training.  

As the expert in employee training for both upskilling and compliance, Go1 is here to help add some guidance on where to go from here. Here's the first three steps we'd recommend to be on your way to compliance. 

Step 1: Raise general awareness about AI 

Help your people understand why AI literacy is important for their jobs. Ensure your employees have a solid understanding of AI applications within your product and around their individual workflows. Once they see the benefits — like being more efficient and innovative — they'll be on board. Think about setting up workshops and online courses that let your team actually use AI systems. The more they use them, the more they'll get to know how they work and what they can do.  

Step 2: Set up dedicated AI training 

Next, create curated training playlists covering important AI basics like transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination to align with the principles of the EU AI Act. Providers like Go1can help you get there, and suggest courses for different teams or specific roles. This could include courses like a beginner’s guide to AI, safety concerns when using AI, or more advanced courses around eliminating biases and using AI for business strategy. Personalizing the training to individual employees is key. It'll help your them understand the importance of AI in their roles, how to manage risks, and how to keep their skills up to date. 

Step 3: Encourage continuous learning 

We all know that continuous, bite-sized learning, rather than dropping a large training module on your employees, is the best approach. But sometimes, priorities shift and keeping up-to-date with the latest rules and laws can become more reactive than we’d like. To help prevent this, map out a few dedicated touchpoints you can stick to. This could include a regular training requirement update once a month on your intranet, Slack channel, or internal newsletter. You can curate dedicated training playlists for certain teams, update those with the help of your eLearning provider, and send out notifications to your employees. By sticking to a schedule, you can regularly assign relevant courses, monitor completion and feedback, and align training with your company’s needs. 

By incorporating these training strategies, you're not just boosting your team's AI knowledge — you're gearing them up to be active, ethical, and responsible AI users at work.  

Go1 can help you bring the right AI training to the right employee, at exactly the right time. With AI literacy courses for beginners and training for those with a higher level of understanding, you can tailor your programs to fill any gaps in education. Simply get in touch with our team to learn more!