Yesterday, the first provisions of the EU AI Act came into force, and one of the the key highlights are the AI literacy requirements for organisations deploying AI systems. This isn't just a box-ticking exercise. Ensuring that employees and stakeholders understand AI systems is crucial for fostering responsible and transparent AI development. From recognising biases to understanding model limitations, AI literacy empowers individuals to engage critically with these technologies and make informed decisions.
In the context of Hugging Face, AI literacy has many facets: allowing more people to contribute to AI development, providing courses and documentation to ensuring access is possible, and accessible AI tools that empower users to better understand how AI systems function. This isn't just a regulatory milestone; it’s an opportunity to foster a culture where AI literacy becomes foundational, enabling stakeholders to recognise biases, assess model limitations, and engage critically with technology.
Embedding these principles into daily practice, and eventually extending our learnings in AI literacy to the general public, is essential for building trustworthy AI that aligns with societal values.