EU AI Act: Companies Must Ensure Staff AI Competence from August 2
Article 4 of the EU AI Act mandates that companies ensure their personnel possess adequate Artificial Intelligence competence. National enforcement begins on August 2, 2026.
The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) is set to intensify scrutiny on corporate AI practices, with national market surveillance and enforcement for Article 4 commencing on August 2, 2026. This article requires both providers and deployers of AI systems to ensure their staff achieve a sufficient level of AI competence. While the obligation has been in effect since February 2, 2025, the active enforcement phase starts in August.
AI competence is defined by the regulation as "the skills, knowledge, and understanding that enable... to use AI systems in an informed manner and to be aware of AI's opportunities and risks and potential harms." The required level of competence is context-dependent, varying based on the personnel's technical expertise, experience, and the specific use case of the AI system.
Contrary to some interpretations, the AI Act does not mandate a formal certificate for AI competence. The European Commission has clarified that internal records of training and other relevant initiatives suffice. While not legally required, a structured approach to documenting this competence is advisable for demonstrative purposes.
As of August 2, 2026, companies will be subject to national authorities' oversight regarding AI competence. The AI Act outlines tiered penalties for various infringements, with specific fines for Article 4 violations to be determined by individual member states, rather than the higher penalties reserved for more severe breaches like prohibited AI practices.