Learning with AI at work: using assistants to actually gain new skills

Employers have obligations too

Article 4 of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act requires companies and institutions that provide or use AI systems to take measures to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy among staff and others using those systems on their behalf. The obligation has applied since 2 February 2025, and according to the European Commission supervision by national authorities starts in August 2026.

The Commission explains that the rule requires no certificates and no single mandatory training — measures should match staff knowledge and the risks of the use case. In practice, ask at work which tools are allowed, for what, and what training is available.

An answer is not a skill

An AI assistant can write a spreadsheet formula, summarise regulations or explain a concept in seconds. But if we just copy the result, little sticks. Research on learning shows that active recall and practice work best, not passively reading ready explanations. AI can help — as long as you do the thinking.

• Ask for an explanation, then close the window and try the task yourself.
• Ask the assistant to quiz you on a new topic instead of giving answers.
• Paste your own solution and ask it to point out mistakes, not to rewrite it.
• Return to the topic after a few days — short reviews beat one long session.

Check before you use

AI assistants can present outdated or invented information very convincingly. In legal, financial, medical or safety matters, every important piece of information must be checked against the source: the law, the manufacturer's documentation, the company procedure.

• Ask for sources and open them yourself.
• Compare the answer with the official documentation of the tool or rule.
• For calculations, check the result on a simple example.
• When the answer concerns your company, confirm it with the person responsible.

Data and confidentiality

Don't paste customers' personal data, trade secrets or confidential documents into public tools unless your employer allows it. Many companies have their own rules and approved tools. If yours doesn't, ask — it is usually quicker than explaining an incident.

A one-month learning plan

Example: you want to learn data analysis in a spreadsheet.

• Week 1: ask the AI for a learning plan and a list of core functions; practise on your own work data (nothing confidential).
• Week 2: one task a day — first on your own, then compare with the AI's suggestion.
• Week 3: ask for 10 check questions and a project task; do them without help.
• Week 4: prepare a small report for your team and describe what you learned — evidence of the skill for a development conversation.