Iteration 1 preview · EU AI Act guide
Regulatory context

Article 4 vs. Article 26 — know the difference

A plain-English guide to what the EU AI Act actually requires of employers — and where our programmes end and individual, tailored work begins.

"AI literacy means skills, knowledge and understanding that allow providers, deployers and affected persons […] to make an informed deployment of AI systems, as well as to gain awareness about the opportunities and risks of AI and possible harm it can cause."

— Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (EU AI Act), Article 3(56)
Article 4 · General AI literacy

Best practice, currently under review

Applies since February 2025. Article 4 requires providers and deployers of AI systems to take measures, to their best extent, to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy among staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf. The Digital Omnibus proposal (19 Nov 2025) may shift this obligation toward Member States rather than individual organisations.

Article 26 · Human oversight

Firm requirement — unaffected by Omnibus

Staff operating high-risk AI systems (HR-tech, scoring, biometrics) must be trained for effective human oversight. This obligation remains in place regardless of Article 4 amendments — it requires deep tailoring to the specific high-risk system in use.

Need Article 26 training? We build it individually for your company, tailored to your specific system — get in touch.

Even if the proposed Digital Omnibus amendments soften the general Article 4 obligation, the requirement to train staff operating high-risk AI systems for effective human oversight (Article 26) remains unaffected. Our current programmes (Option 1 & Option 2) cover Article 4 company-wide AI literacy — Article 26 human oversight training is handled individually, tailored to your specific high-risk system.

What our training provides — and what it doesn't claim

The European Commission's AI Literacy Q&A states that a specific certificate is not required for Article 4; organisations can keep internal records of trainings instead. For this reason, we avoid the unsafe market language of "official Article 4 certification".

What this programme gives you

  • Certificate of Completion after participation and the knowledge check
  • A documented syllabus, duration, participant record and covered topics
  • A practical AI literacy foundation for everyday workplace use
  • Company-specific examples and policy references, where provided

What it does not claim to be

  • An official EU certification or regulatory approval
  • A guarantee that your organisation is compliant in every AI use case
  • A substitute for legal, data protection, security or high-risk AI system assessment
  • A one-size-fits-all legal solution for every sector, role or AI system
Stay ahead of changes

Get the 1-page decision tree — and Omnibus updates

Free download: "Article 4 or Article 26? A 1-page decision tree" — plus, if the Digital Omnibus changes the Article 4 obligation, we'll send a plain-English update. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Ready to close the gap?

Article 4 for yourself or your team, or a tailored Article 26 conversation — either way, here's where to go next.