AI Regulation Readiness: A Checklist for Enterprise Leaders

Regulators in many jurisdictions are moving towards risk-based rules for AI. Details differ, but the practical obligations are similar: know what AI you run, classify its risk, and prove you govern it.

The checklist

1. Inventory: list every AI system in use, including embedded vendor features and informal staff use.
2. Classify: assign each system a risk level based on its impact on people and decisions.
3. Assign owners: every system needs an accountable business owner.
4. Document: keep records of purpose, data sources, evaluation results and known limitations.
5. Monitor: track performance and incidents after launch, not just before.
6. Review vendors: confirm contracts address data use, transparency and support for audits.

Compliance is far cheaper when governance is built into delivery than when it is retrofitted.

Where to start

Begin with the inventory. Most organisations discover more AI in use than leadership expected, and that visibility is the foundation for everything else. This article is general commentary and not legal advice; consult qualified counsel for your jurisdiction.