Governance

AI Governance

The policies, structures and processes that assign responsibility, manage risk, and ensure lawful, ethical, and accountable development and use of AI.

How the laws define this

Institutions and guidance uniformly define AI governance as the policies, institutional structures, processes, and oversight mechanisms used to guide the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence ethically, safely, and accountably while mitigating risks. The principal point of divergence lies in whether governance refers to internal organizational management or external regulatory regimes. Enterprise-specific frameworks, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fiscal Year 2025–2026 AI Strategy, frame governance around internal leadership structures, enterprise roles, and policies to oversee an organization's own AI activities. Conversely, broader instruments like the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Global Digital Compact, and Introduction to AI assurance expand governance to encompass binding laws, legal frameworks addressing liability, data protection, and intellectual property, national strategies, independent oversight bodies, and international multi-stakeholder cooperation.

Synthesised from the 13 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 10 of the 13 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

JurisdictionInstrumentStatusWhat is distinctive
UruguayMontevideo Declaration on Artificial Intelligence “For the construction of a regional approach on the governance of Artificial Intelligence and its impacts on our society”In ForceEmphasizes regional cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean for ethical and sustainable AI governance.
United KingdomIntroduction to AI assuranceIn ForceHighlights mechanisms like laws, regulations, institutions, and norms to maximize benefits while mitigating risks and harms.
United NationsResolution A/RES/79/1 - Annex II: Global Digital CompactAdoptedFocuses on international and national approaches through cooperation, standards alignment, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
United StatesU.S. Department of Agriculture Fiscal Year 2025–2026 AI StrategyIn ForceCenters on enterprise-level leadership structures, policies, roles, and responsibilities for ethical and compliant AI deployment.
World Economic ForumWorld Economic Forum AI Governance AllianceIn ForceIncludes stakeholder roles, risk management approaches, and coordination with regulatory and non-regulatory instruments.
ASEANASEAN Guide on AI Governance and EthicsIn ForceStresses balancing innovation with societal well-being and trust in structures, processes, and principles.
African UnionContinental Artificial Intelligence StrategyIn ForceDetails regulatory bodies, legal frameworks addressing liability, data protection, and intellectual property.
United Arab EmiratesUAE's International Stance on Artificial Intelligence PolicyIn ForceIncorporates national strategies, ethical charters, and participation in international forums to shape global norms.
KenyaKenya National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030AdoptedSpecifies roles for ministries, regulators, steering committees, technical working groups, and coordination mechanisms.
BRICSBRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial IntelligenceAdoptedEncompasses ethical, legal, and technical considerations within systems, processes, and norms.

What it triggers

  • In Kenya, it sets out ethical AI safeguards and risk assessment approaches for public and private AI adoption.source
  • The Montevideo Declaration fosters cooperation for ethical and sustainable AI in Latin America and the Caribbean.source
  • The Global Digital Compact advances responsible AI through international and national cooperation and standards alignment.source

Definitions (13)

The institutional structures, policies, and procedures for overseeing AI development and deployment, including roles, responsibilities, coordination mechanisms, and the proposed independent AI governance body to regulate and monitor AI activities.

The institutions, processes and rules guiding AI deployment, covering roles for ministries, regulators, steering committees, technical working groups and coordination mechanisms to ensure accountable, transparent and lawful AI implementation.

A multi-level set of coordinating bodies, processes, standards and mechanisms that provide policy direction, oversight, prioritization of use-cases, and standards development for AI across public and private sectors.

Policies, principles, and institutional arrangements intended to ensure the safe, ethical, and accountable development, deployment, and oversight of artificial intelligence systems. In the Compact, it refers to international and national approaches to advance responsible AI through cooperation, standards alignment, and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Global Digital CompactDefinition 4 of 13

Frameworks for managing AI development and deployment, encompassing institutional mechanisms, oversight bodies, standards alignment, capacity building, and multi‑stakeholder participation to guide responsible use and governance of AI systems.

Frameworks, policies, institutions, and processes for overseeing the development, deployment, and use of AI systems, including stakeholder roles, risk management approaches, and coordination with regulatory and non‑regulatory instruments.

The frameworks, policies, and institutional structures established to guide the development, deployment, and use of Artificial Intelligence systems, ensuring ethical considerations, human rights, and societal well-being are prioritized.

The systems, processes, and norms for guiding the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence technologies to ensure beneficial outcomes and mitigate risks. It encompasses ethical, legal, and technical considerations.

AI governance involves establishing robust leadership structures, policies, roles, and responsibilities to oversee all artificial intelligence activities across an enterprise. Its purpose is to ensure the ethical, compliant, and effective deployment of AI systems while mitigating risks.

AI governance refers to the institutional structures, regulatory frameworks, and oversight mechanisms necessary to guide the ethical and responsible development, deployment, and use of AI technologies. This includes establishing national AI strategies, regulatory bodies, and legal frameworks that address issues like liability, data protection, and intellectual property.

AI Governance involves establishing policies, standards, and oversight mechanisms to ensure that artificial intelligence technologies are developed and deployed ethically, safely, and accountably. In the UAE context, this includes national strategies, ethical charters, and active participation in international forums to shape global norms.

AI Governance encompasses the structures, processes, and principles established to guide the ethical, safe, and effective design, development, and use of AI systems. It aims to balance innovation with societal well-being and trust.

AI governance encompasses the broad spectrum of mechanisms, such as laws, regulations, policies, institutions, and norms, that define the processes for making decisions about AI. Its goal is to maximize AI benefits while mitigating potential risks and harms.

Introduction to AI assuranceDefinition 13 of 13

Not to be confused with

AI risk management

AI risk management focuses specifically on identifying, assessing, treating, and monitoring AI-specific risks, while AI governance covers broader policies, structures, and processes.

AI management system

AI management system refers to organizational elements and activities supporting AI decision-making, narrower than the comprehensive institutional frameworks of AI governance.

Questions and answers

What does AI governance include according to the Montevideo Declaration?

It includes frameworks, policies, and institutional structures to guide AI development, deployment, and use, prioritizing ethical considerations, human rights, and societal well-being. The Declaration establishes regional commitment for Latin America and the Caribbean.

How does the UK define AI governance in its assurance guidance?

AI governance encompasses laws, regulations, policies, institutions, and norms to make decisions about AI, aiming to maximize benefits and mitigate risks. It guides organizations on evaluating and communicating AI trustworthiness.

What is distinctive about Kenya's AI governance approach?

It covers institutions, processes, and rules guiding AI deployment, including specific roles for ministries, regulators, steering committees, and coordination mechanisms. The strategy establishes ethical safeguards and risk assessments.