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A new study reveals a lack of knowledge among employees about how to use AI, which runs counter to C-level expectations that it will boost productivity; but are these managers aware that AI training and internal rules are mandatory under the EU’s AI Act and could save their companies significant risks?
The results of research into employee use of AI
Recent research reveals a striking gap between executive expectations and employee experiences with AI. While 96% of C-suite executives anticipate AI will enhance productivity, 47% of employees are unsure how to realize these benefits, and 77% feel that AI has actually added to their workload.
What’s causing this disconnect? A possible explanation is the lack of effective leadership. Less than 26% of executives report having AI training programs in place, and just 13% say their company has a well-developed AI strategy.
These findings suggest that many companies are diving into AI investments without fully grasping the cultural changes required for successful implementation. Without this understanding, the rush to embrace AI could lead to squandered resources and missed opportunities, rather than the competitive edge they seek.
But let’s go to the core of the issue that is even more complicated.
Why is AI training highly recommended?
The above research shows how the adoption of artificial intelligence solutions without AI training for employees could turn against the interest of the company.
At the same time, AI training
- Is necessary to prevent employees from using AI solutions inappropriately, such as providing copyrighted content, company trade secrets, or personal data to AI solutions that have not been approved by the company; and
- Requires the company to have internal policies on how to use artificial intelligence solutions and which AI solutions can be used,
Otherwise, employers may not be able to challenge any employees’ misconduct due to a lack of internal rules. In fact, we often see companies implementing AI solutions, often as part of pilot programs, just to see how it is received by employees without adopting any internal rules or running internal trainings because of the limited scope of the initiative.
But no feedback can be positive if employees are not trained on the benefits and limitations of its use.
Why is AI training mandatory under the EU AI law?
According to Article 4 of the EU AI Act, which refers to “AI literacy” and provides the following
Providers and deployers of AI systems shall take measures to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy of their staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education and training and the context the AI systems are to be used in, and considering the persons or groups of persons on whom the AI systems are to be used.
AI literacy is defined under the AIA as “skills, knowledge and understanding that allow providers, deployers and affected persons, taking into account their respective rights and obligations in the context of this Regulation, 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” and recital 20 of the EUAIA provides that “deployers should ensure that the persons assigned to implement the instructions for use and human oversight as set out in this Regulation have the necessary competence, in particular an adequate level of AI literacy, training and authority to properly fulfil those tasks“.
Based on the above, the obligation to provide AI training to personnel
- Applies to both providers and users, which means that any company using AI solutions is obliged to train its staff, and that this training must be differentiated according to the actual use of AI solutions that each category of staff is expected to perform;
- Requires that AI training be accompanied by internal policies and procedures on how artificial intelligence will be used and how AI solutions can be approved; and
Interestingly, the aforementioned Article 4 is one of the provisions that will become effective on February 2, 2025.
Thus, companies have less than 6 months to adopt policies and procedures on the appropriate use of artificial intelligence solutions and to conduct AI training for their employees.
On the same topic, you can read the article “Do you have an AI policy?“.
