The Collective Responsibility
AI governance is not a one-person job. It requires clear roles and collective responsibility across the entire organization to build a robust AI framework.
1. Leadership and Strategy
These roles set the ethical tone and strategic direction for all AI initiatives.
- Executive Managers: Set overall strategy and risk tolerance; ensure business alignment.
- Chief AI Officer (CAIO): Drives direction, oversees implementation, and champions ethical AI.
- AI Steering Committee: Guides strategy, allocates resources, and enforces governance policies.
2. Development and Operations
The technical teams responsible for the practical building and maintenance of secure systems.
- IT Development: Builds secure systems, embeds governance in code, and ensures model integrity.
- IT Operations: Manages infrastructure, performance, and reliability for continuous security.
- Product Management: Defines secure features, prioritizes ethical use cases, and integrates governance into the product lifecycle.
3. User Roles and Support
Focusing on how employees interact with and support AI governance.
- End Users: Must adhere to usage guidelines and promptly report suspicious behavior.
- Human Resources: Ensures employees receive training, verifies policy adherence, and guides ethical conduct.
- Customer Service: The front line for handling AI-related inquiries, concerns, and feedback from the public.
4. Governance and Oversight
The "watchdogs" ensuring continuous compliance and risk mitigation.
- Governance Committee: Maintains compliance, reviews policies, and approves high-risk deployments.
- Risk Management: Identifies and mitigates threats and vulnerabilities.
- InfoSec and Privacy: Protects data integrity and confidentiality.
- Internal Audit: Provides independent assurance that controls are working as intended.
Stakeholders and Social Impact
Governance extends beyond internal teams to external influence and impact.
Key Considerations:
- Board of Directors: Ensures AI aligns with goals and addresses macro concerns (e.g., job displacement).
- Third Parties (Vendors): Must meet the organization's ethical and security standards.
- Regulators: Ensure systems comply with industry and legal regulations.
- Community & Society: AI must be inclusive, socially responsible, and environmentally conscious.
