The risks of using models without responsible governance are very real. Left unchecked, AI systems can make damaging decisions, leading to reputational damage for businesses. Too often, AI governance is treated as an afterthought, a checkbox for compliance, or a vague policy buried in legal documentation. ISO/IEC 42001 is one solution to this problem. It is the world’s first AI management system standard, built to close the governance gap. It requires organizations to embed structured policies, named ownership, impact assessments, human oversight, explainability, and continuous monitoring. For IT leaders and AI teams, adopting ISO/IEC 42001 as part of the AI procurement criteria guarantees that a focus is placed on procuring responsible, auditable, and trustworthy models.
The ISO/IEC 42001 Framework
The ISO/IEC 42001 defines a structured governance model that helps AI developers manage risk throughout the full AI lifecycle. It demands that they embed policies, assign clear …