AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs: what do you need to arrange?
AI literacy for entrepreneurs: what the AI Act requires after the July 2026 change, and how to handle it in four simple steps.
You use ChatGPT for quotes, a colleague lets Copilot write emails, and the bookkeeper tests an AI tool. Then AI literacy for entrepreneurs suddenly becomes an official topic. Since 2025, it has been in the European AI Act, and in July 2026 the text was updated.
In this article, you will read what applies now and what to do with it in practice. No legal advice, just a clear step-by-step plan.
What is AI literacy for entrepreneurs?
AI literacy is enough knowledge to use AI wisely and safely. It is about your own work and your own team, not about the technology.
Article 4 of that law focuses on organisations that offer or use AI systems in their work. That can include small businesses. The rule covers your employees and other people who work with AI on your behalf, such as a contractor or an outside service provider.
If you only use AI for yourself, the idea behind it is still useful: know what you are doing. Whether the duty also applies to your situation depends on how you use AI. If in doubt, ask a lawyer.
Examples from small and medium-sized businesses:
- An online shop lets AI write product descriptions.
- A hairdresser uses AI for social media posts.
- An administrative office lets AI summarise invoices.
What changed in 2026 in the rule?
The duty to work on AI literacy remains, but the law no longer sets a specific level. This is due to the Digital Omnibus for AI, an amendment to the AI Act that was published on 24 July 2026 and entered into force on 27 July 2026.
For your business, this means you must take measures to support your people’s AI knowledge. You do not have to meet a pre-set level. The European Commission and member states must help businesses, especially SMEs, with practical examples. These will appear on a central European information platform.
Note: if you use high-risk AI systems, the duty remains that your people are trained for human oversight. This applies, for example, to AI that helps decide on job applicants or loans.
The Dutch government says on Digital Government that a certificate for an employee’s AI knowledge is not the only or required way to comply with the rules. So you do not need to send everyone to an expensive exam. What is sensible depends on your business and on how you use AI. If in doubt, ask a lawyer or your trade association.
How do you arrange AI literacy in four steps?
Start small and write down what you do. That way, you can later show that you are taking it seriously.
- Make a list of your AI tools. Think of ChatGPT, Copilot, translation tools and AI in your accounting package. Also ask your team about tools they use on their own.
- Agree simple rules. Which data may not go into an AI tool, such as customer data or contracts? Who checks the result before it goes to a client?
- Give a short training session. An hour of explanation about errors, privacy and good prompts (the instruction you give AI) works better than a thick document.
- Write down what you did. Date, who took part and what you discussed. Half a page is enough.
Tailor the explanation to the person. An employee who works with AI every day needs more than someone who only uses it occasionally to rewrite an email. For example, let one person practise with real examples from their own work, and give another person a short guide.
One tip many entrepreneurs miss: include AI use in your induction programme. A new colleague then reads the rules on day one, and you do not need to arrange something separately. Also set a fixed moment, for example twice a year, to review the tool list and the rules.
Which risks should you know about?
The three biggest risks are errors, privacy and blind trust. AI sounds confident, even when it is wrong.
| Risk | Example | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Errors | AI invents a legal article in your quote | Always check facts yourself |
| Privacy | You paste a customer file into a free tool | Remove personal data or choose a business version |
| Blind trust | A colleague sends AI text on without reading it | Agree a checking moment |
Personal data also falls under the GDPR. Read the provider’s terms and see whether your data is used to train the model. This differs by tool and by subscription.
Do you want to build AI help that always follows the same rules? Then read how to make your own AI assistant without programming. If you use Microsoft, also look at Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive, where files and permissions come together.
Always have the checklist checked by someone who knows your business. AI does not know your situation.
Where can you find reliable explanations?
Start with the sources from the government and the European Commission, because rules change. So check from time to time whether anything has changed.
Do you want even more control over the work AI can do for you? Then take a look at OpenAI Dots. Such an agent, an AI that carries out tasks on its own, makes good agreements even more important.
Frequently asked questions
Does AI literacy also apply to self-employed people?
The rule focuses on organisations that use or offer AI, even if you work on your own. It is about your own knowledge and that of people who work with AI on your behalf. If you are unsure about your situation, ask a lawyer.
Do I need a certificate?
No. According to the Dutch government, certification of individual knowledge is not the only or required way to comply with the rules.
Since when has the duty applied?
Article 4 has applied since 2 February 2025. The 2026 amendment entered into force on 27 July 2026 and made the duty lighter: no fixed knowledge level is prescribed.
What should I write down?
Note which AI tools you use, which agreements you made and when your team received an explanation. That way, you can show what you have done.
Your next step is small: make your tool list today. You will find more practical help in our category AI for entrepreneurs.
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