Governance

governance

Institutional arrangements for coordination, monitoring and updating policy.

How the laws define this

Institutional frameworks, bodies, and practices form the shared foundation of governance across these sources, establishing the formal structures needed to direct AI actions and management. The primary division among them lies in whether governance targets the internal execution of a national policy or the external regulation and oversight of technology. Both the Estratégia Brasileira de Inteligência Artificial and Portaria MCTI nº 4.617, de 6 de abril de 2021 focus on national strategy administration, defining governance around MCTI-centered arrangements to prioritize, coordinate, implement, monitor, and update strategic plan actions. Conversely, the Kigali Global AI Summit Outcomes (Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence) and the South Australia Appointment of Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy 2026 define governance as guiding, regulating, and overseeing the development, deployment, and use of AI technologies. These latter instruments expand governance to include policy formulation, standard-setting, enforcement, and alignment with public interest and ethical standards.

Synthesised from the 4 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 3 of the 4 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Brazil	Brazilian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence	In Force (Amended)	Specifies networked structures and practices centered on MCTI, thematic subcommittees, invited institutions and partners for prioritizing, implementing, monitoring and updating.
Australia	AI in Australia's interests	In Force	Broadens to frameworks, processes, and institutions guiding, regulating, and overseeing AI and digital technologies to align with public interest and ethical standards.
Rwanda	Kigali Global AI Summit Outcomes (Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence)	Adopted	Emphasizes regulatory bodies and oversight mechanisms for policy formulation, standard-setting, and enforcement in guiding responsible AI development, deployment, and use.

What it triggers

Under the Brazilian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (EBIA), these institutional arrangements centered on MCTI establish processes to prioritise, implement, monitor and periodically update the national AI strategy and its strategic actions.source
In Australia, the AI in Australia's interests framework monitored by the Office of AI uses these governance elements to guide public and private sector AI deployment.source
Under the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence, these governance structures guide ethical and sustainable AI deployment across African states.source

Definitions (4)

In EBIA, 'governance' means the institutional arrangements, networked structures and practices (centred on MCTI, thematic subcommittees, invited institutions and partners) established to prioritise, implement, monitor and periodically update the national AI strategy and its strategic actions.

Estratégia Brasileira de Inteligência Artificial (Brazilian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence)Definition 1 of 4

As used by EBIA and instituted by the Portaria, governance denotes the institutions, bodies and practices (centered on MCTI, the governance group, thematic subcommittees and working groups) responsible for prioritizing, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and updating the national AI strategy and its strategic actions, including stakeholder convening and publication of monitoring reports.

Portaria MCTI nº 4.617, de 6 de abril de 2021 (Ordinance instituting the Brazilian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence)Definition 2 of 4

Governance refers to the institutional structures, regulatory bodies, and oversight mechanisms established to guide the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI technologies. This encompasses policy formulation, standard-setting, and enforcement.

Kigali Global AI Summit Outcomes (Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence)Definition 3 of 4

In this context refers to the frameworks, processes, and institutions established to guide, regulate, and oversee the development and deployment of AI and digital technologies, ensuring alignment with public interest and ethical standards.

South Australia Appointment of Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy 2026Definition 4 of 4

Not to be confused with

AI Governance Board

AI Governance Board refers to a specific senior-leader board for coordinating AI policy and deployment decisions, while governance here denotes broader institutional arrangements.

AI Council

AI Council is a cross-sector body for coordinating AI policy and implementation, narrower than the comprehensive institutional structures and practices of governance.

Questions and answers

What does governance mean in Brazil's EBIA?

Governance in EBIA refers to institutional arrangements, networked structures and practices centered on MCTI, thematic subcommittees, invited institutions and partners to prioritise, implement, monitor and update the national AI strategy. It was instituted by Portaria MCTI No. 4.617 and amended by Portaria MCTI No. 4.979.

How is AI governance defined in Australia's framework?

It refers to frameworks, processes, and institutions established to guide, regulate, and oversee AI and digital technologies development and deployment, ensuring alignment with public interest and ethical standards, monitored by the Office of AI.

What governance structures does the Africa Declaration on AI describe?

Governance encompasses institutional structures, regulatory bodies, and oversight mechanisms to guide responsible AI development, deployment, and use, including policy formulation, standard-setting, and enforcement.