AI literacy for a global consumer goods business
As AI tools began to appear in everyday work, a global consumer goods business developed an AI literacy programme with Alirity to give every colleague a shared introduction to AI and its responsible use. Produced in five languages, the six-module programme has now been completed more than 6,000 times.
completions
The programme has been completed more than 6,000 times by people across the business.
modules
A shared introduction to AI, starting with a mandatory module that gives every colleague the same understanding of the business’s AI strategy and best practices.
languages
Available in English, Spanish, Italian, German and French, so colleagues can learn in their first language.
The Context
A global consumer goods company was investing in the data capability of its people through foundational and experienced data literacy learning, giving colleagues the grounding they would need to work with AI. Alirity was in a steering committee meeting with the business on this programme when a new need emerged. AI tools had started to appear in everyday work, and leaders wanted colleagues to understand them before usage grew any further, including which tools were right to use from a security and governance perspective.
In almost every sector, AI is becoming part of how work gets done. As access to the technology widens, the difference between organisations increasingly comes down to how well their people understand it, including when an output needs questioning. A workforce that understands AI can adapt as new tools arrive and markets shift, which has made AI literacy a core part of organisational resilience.
With this in mind, the business chose to develop a dedicated AI literacy programme with Alirity. Designed to sit alongside the data learning, it gives every colleague a shared introduction to AI and how to use it responsibly in their role.
The Problem
As AI tools became more widely available across the business, colleagues began using them in their day-to-day work before clear guidance was in place. There was no shared understanding of when human oversight was needed, or of how AI should be used in line with company policy and governance. Without that literacy and the guardrails to support it, the risk of misuse increased as more colleagues started to use these tools.
For a business operating across many regions, the consequences extended beyond individual teams. Different markets and departments were likely to develop their own ways of working with AI, which would lead to inconsistent decisions across the organisation and greater operational and compliance risk as usage continued to expand.
The Approach
Alirity developed the programme in close collaboration with a working group from the business. The content reflects the business’s AI strategy and its expectations for how AI is used, including which tools are appropriate from a security and governance perspective.
The six modules begin with a mandatory introduction that gives every colleague the same understanding of the AI strategy and best practices. The remaining modules introduce core AI concepts and cover governance, responsible use and where human oversight is needed. Each module combines AI avatar videos with diagrams and knowledge articles, designed in the client brand to sit alongside the data literacy learning.
Once each module was approved in English, it was translated and produced in Spanish, Italian, German and French, with the videos and visual material recreated for every language. Learning in their first language helps colleagues absorb unfamiliar technical concepts and reduces the risk of misunderstanding in the modules on governance and responsible use. It also opens the programme to colleagues who are less comfortable working in English, giving everyone equal access to the learning. Colleagues around the world now learn from the same content, giving the business a consistent foundation for AI use across the organisation.
The Outcome
Since launch, the programme has been completed more than 6,000 times, giving colleagues a common understanding of AI and of the principles the business expects them to follow when using it.
With shared guidance on human oversight and governance in place, colleagues know where the boundaries sit when using AI in their roles, and the business is better protected from the operational and compliance risks of unsafe adoption. Decisions informed by AI now rest on the same principles across the organisation, giving leaders greater assurance as usage grows.
The business also gained reusable templates for future learning content, allowing the programme to expand as the organisation’s AI capability develops.
What their people said
Great content for a common base for all and to start with AI governance.
Thanks for establishing the fundamentals and guiding principles as we adopt AI in our day-to-day activities.
Loved how clear, straight to the point and informative the videos are!
Very pleased to see the course touching on the complex ethics involving the use of AI software.
AI Literacy FAQs
What is AI literacy?
AI literacy is the knowledge and understanding people need to use AI tools effectively and responsibly. It covers how AI works and how to apply critical thinking to its outputs, along with the principles that govern how an organisation expects AI to be used. For most organisations, building AI literacy means giving every colleague a shared foundation through structured AI training.
Why is AI literacy important for organisations?
As AI becomes a part of everyday work, an organisation’s ability to benefit from it depends on how well its people understand it. AI literacy helps colleagues use AI with confidence and apply human oversight where it matters, reducing the operational and compliance risks that come with unsafe adoption. It also gives teams in different regions a consistent approach to AI.
Does the EU AI Act require AI literacy training for employees?
Yes. Since February 2025, Article 4 of the EU AI Act has required organisations that provide or use AI systems to ensure their staff have a sufficient level of AI literacy. A structured AI training programme for employees, tailored to the organisation and how it uses AI, is one of the clearest ways to show this requirement is being met.
What should a AI literacy programme include?
A strong AI literacy programme begins with the organisation’s own AI strategy and the principles that govern how AI is used. It should then build understanding of core AI concepts and everyday tools, before moving into governance and where human oversight is needed. Examples drawn from the organisation’s own ways of working help colleagues contextualise and apply what they learn in their roles.
Who in an organisation needs AI literacy training?
Anyone who uses AI in their work, or makes decisions informed by it will benefit from AI literacy training. Leaders also need a clear understanding of AI strategy and governance, as they shape the expectations their teams work to.
What are the risks of using AI without AI literacy training?
When colleagues use AI without the right understanding, they may share information inappropriately or rely on outputs that have not been checked. Across a large organisation, teams can develop different ways of working with AI, leading to inconsistent decisions and greater operational and compliance risk.
How is AI literacy different from data literacy?
Data literacy is the ability to interpret and use data to inform decisions. AI literacy builds on it, helping people understand how AI tools work and when their outputs need questioning. As AI relies on data, the two work best together, and many organisations develop data literacy first as the foundation for AI.
How long does it take to develop an AI literacy programme?
The timeline depends on the scope and volume of the content, along with factors such as the AI tools used across the business, the governance the organisation expects, and the number of languages required. The programme in this case study covered six modules with bespoke video and visual material, each produced in five languages, and was developed in close collaboration with a working group from the business.
How do you measure the success of AI literacy training?
Completions show how far the training has reached, but they are only the starting point. A fuller picture comes from setting a baseline before launch and tracking change over time. Usage data from AI tools shows whether adoption is growing, while policy adherence and issues raised through governance channels show whether AI is being used responsibly. Colleague feedback and examples from teams then connect the learning to improvements in how work gets done.
Build AI literacy across your organisation
Organisations adopting AI need their people to understand it, and the right programme looks different for every business. If you are exploring how to build that understanding across your workforce, we would welcome a conversation about where to begin.
