April 1, 2026
What is ISO 42001?
ISO/IEC 42001 is the first international standard for an AI Management System (AIMS). It aligns well with the EU AI Act.
The first international standard for an AI management system.
Background
ISO/IEC 42001 is the first international standard for an AI Management System (AIMS). It defines how an organization establishes, implements, maintains, and continually improves its AIMS.
The standard was published in 2023 and the world’s first certification was achieved in summer 2024. It aligns well with the EU AI Act.
Key characteristics
- Common structure with other management standards (ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001)
- Risk-based approach
- Impact assessments
- Lifecycle thinking and documentation
Standard structure
- Clause 4: Context of the organization
- Clause 5: Leadership
- Clause 6: Planning
- Clause 7: Support
- Clause 8: Operation
- Clause 9: Performance evaluation
- Clause 10: Improvement
Controls (Annex A)
- A.2 AI-related policies
- A.3 Internal organization
- A.4 AI system resources
- A.5 AI system impact assessment
- A.6 AI system lifecycle
- A.7 Data and information
- A.8 Information for interested parties
- A.9 Responsible use of AI systems
- A.10 Third parties and customers