AI literacy is not a single skill. CFTE's framework defines three levels — awareness, tool proficiency, and system thinking — each with distinct competency markers and learning pathways.
The term AI literacy is used loosely across most organisations, which makes it difficult to assess, develop, or communicate clearly. CFTE's AI Literacy Framework provides a structured alternative: three levels that describe meaningfully different stages of capability, each with specific indicators and appropriate development approaches.
At the awareness level, individuals can describe what AI is, understand its general applications, and recognise where it is being used in their industry. At the tool proficiency level, they can work effectively with specific AI tools relevant to their role. At the system thinking level, they can evaluate AI use cases, understand risk and governance implications, and contribute to institutional AI strategy.
The framework is used across CFTE's certification and custom programmes to design role-appropriate learning. It provides institutions with a shared vocabulary for capability planning and a basis for assessing where investment is most needed.
Practical implication: Before designing an AI capability programme, map your target population against the three levels. The right intervention for an AI-aware manager is different from the right intervention for a technically proficient analyst or a board member who needs system thinking.
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