Glossary
AI Standards
Documented technical or management specifications developed by standards bodies or consortia to support interoperability, quality and risk management.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22
In plain language
International standards such as ISO/IEC 42001 (AI management systems) sit alongside national standards and sectoral specifications. Standards are usually voluntary unless law or contracts incorporate them. They can spread good practice and also encode the priorities of well-resourced participants. Civil society and Global South participation in standards-setting remains an equity issue.
Why it matters for AI governance
Regulators increasingly point to standards for conformity assessment. Understanding who writes them is part of understanding who governs AI in practice.