What is a good AI governance score?

Scores above 70% indicate 'Managed' maturity with consistent practices across the organization. Scores above 85% represent 'Optimizing' maturity with industry-leading practices. Most organizations start in the 30-50% range ('Developing') and progressively mature. The right target depends on your industry's risk profile and regulatory requirements. Regulated industries should target higher scores.

How are the dimension weights determined?

Governance & Accountability and Risk Management receive 20% weight each as foundational pillars. The remaining four dimensions (Transparency, Privacy, Fairness, Compliance) each receive 15% weight. These weights reflect the relative importance of these areas in comprehensive AI governance frameworks. Organizations can adjust weightings based on their specific context.

What's the difference between NIST alignment and EU AI Act readiness?

NIST AI RMF is a voluntary US framework focused on risk management processes. EU AI Act readiness measures compliance with mandatory requirements for AI systems in the EU market. Organizations operating globally should consider both. A system can have high NIST alignment but still have EU AI Act compliance gaps, particularly around documentation and conformity assessment.

How often should we reassess AI governance maturity?

Conduct comprehensive assessments annually and after significant organizational changes (M&A, major AI deployments, leadership changes). Quarterly lighter-touch reviews can track progress on improvement initiatives. Reassess immediately if new regulations take effect or after AI-related incidents. Continuous monitoring is ideal for organizations with mature governance programs.

What's the relationship between governance score and AI risk?

Higher governance scores correlate with lower AI-related risk exposure. The risk classification (Minimal, Limited, High, Unacceptable) indicates the level of governance-related risk your organization faces. This is distinct from the inherent risk of your AI applications. Even low-risk AI applications require baseline governance, while high-risk applications require comprehensive governance regardless of organizational maturity.

How do we improve our AI governance score?

Focus on the lowest-scoring dimensions first for maximum impact. Establish clear AI governance policies and assign accountability. Implement risk assessment processes for AI systems. Create documentation standards for transparency. Strengthen data governance for privacy. Deploy bias detection and fairness monitoring. Build compliance tracking capabilities. Consider frameworks like ISO 42001 for structured improvement.

Can small organizations achieve high governance scores?

Yes, but governance practices should be proportionate to risk and scale. Small organizations can achieve high scores with focused efforts and appropriate tooling. The key is establishing right-sized governance practices rather than enterprise-scale bureaucracy. Startups should focus on foundational governance (policies, accountability, basic risk assessment) before sophisticated capabilities.

How does AI governance relate to data governance?

AI governance builds on data governance foundations. Strong data governance (quality, lineage, access controls, retention) is prerequisite for effective AI governance. The Privacy & Data Protection dimension directly measures data governance maturity. Organizations with weak data governance will struggle to achieve high AI governance scores. Consider addressing data governance gaps first.

Technology

AI Governance Score Calculator

Calculate your organization's AI governance maturity score using the NIST AI RMF and EU AI Act frameworks. Evaluate governance accountability, risk management, transparency, privacy, fairness, and compliance to identify gaps and prioritize improvements.

Organization Type Preset

Rate your organization's maturity on each dimension from 0-100%, where 0% is no practices in place and 100% is industry-leading implementation.

Governance & Accountability

Risk Management

Transparency & Explainability

Privacy & Data Protection

Fairness & Ethics

Regulatory Compliance

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Measure Your Organization's AI Governance Maturity

The AI Governance Score Calculator helps organizations assess their AI governance practices across six critical dimensions aligned with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and EU AI Act requirements. Get a comprehensive maturity assessment, identify governance gaps, and receive actionable recommendations to strengthen your AI governance posture. Essential for AI ethics leads, compliance officers, and technology executives navigating the evolving AI regulatory landscape.

What is AI Governance and Why Assess It?

AI Governance encompasses the policies, processes, and controls that ensure AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly. As AI becomes pervasive in critical decision-making, organizations face increasing pressure from regulators, stakeholders, and the public to demonstrate trustworthy AI practices. A governance maturity assessment measures how well an organization manages AI risks, ensures accountability, maintains transparency, protects privacy, promotes fairness, and complies with emerging regulations. The EU AI Act and NIST AI RMF provide complementary frameworks for comprehensive AI governance.

Weighted Governance Score Formula

Score = 0.20×Governance + 0.20×Risk + 0.15×Transparency + 0.15×Privacy + 0.15×Fairness + 0.15×Compliance

Why Measure AI Governance Maturity?

Regulatory Compliance Readiness

The EU AI Act introduces mandatory requirements for high-risk AI systems with penalties up to €35 million or 7% of global turnover. Proactive governance assessment helps organizations identify compliance gaps before enforcement begins. Similar regulations are emerging globally.

Risk Mitigation

AI systems can cause significant harm through biased decisions, privacy violations, or unpredictable behavior. Mature governance practices reduce operational, legal, and reputational risks. Organizations with strong AI governance experience fewer AI-related incidents and faster recovery when issues occur.

Stakeholder Trust

Customers, partners, and investors increasingly demand evidence of responsible AI practices. A documented governance maturity score demonstrates commitment to ethical AI. Organizations with transparent governance attract better talent and business opportunities.

Competitive Advantage

Organizations with mature AI governance can deploy AI faster and more confidently. Clear policies and processes reduce friction in AI adoption. Governance leaders are better positioned to leverage AI for strategic advantage while managing risks appropriately.

How to Use the AI Governance Score Calculator

AI Governance Assessment Use Cases

Board and Executive Reporting

Provide board members and executives with a quantified view of AI governance maturity. Track progress over time with consistent metrics. Demonstrate risk management effectiveness and compliance readiness to leadership and audit committees.

EU AI Act Compliance Preparation

Organizations deploying AI in the EU must comply with the AI Act's risk-based requirements. Use the governance assessment to identify gaps in conformity assessment, documentation, human oversight, and transparency obligations before enforcement deadlines.

M&A Due Diligence

Evaluate AI governance maturity as part of merger and acquisition due diligence. AI liabilities can significantly impact deal valuations. Assess target companies' governance practices to identify integration challenges and potential regulatory risks.

Vendor and Partner Assessment

Evaluate AI governance practices of technology vendors and partners. Third-party AI systems can introduce governance risks. Use the assessment framework to establish minimum governance standards for AI suppliers and conduct regular reviews.

AI Strategy Development

Align AI governance investments with strategic priorities. Identify which governance dimensions need the most improvement to support planned AI initiatives. Create roadmaps that balance innovation velocity with responsible AI practices.

Audit and Certification

Prepare for AI audits by assessing governance maturity against established frameworks. Many organizations pursue AI-related certifications (ISO 42001, IEEE 7000 series). The governance assessment helps identify readiness gaps and prioritize remediation efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

The calculator aligns primarily with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) and EU AI Act requirements. NIST AI RMF provides a voluntary framework organized around Govern, Map, Measure, and Manage functions. The EU AI Act establishes mandatory requirements for high-risk AI systems in the European market. Our six dimensions map to key principles from both frameworks.

Measure Your Organization's AI Governance Maturity

What is AI Governance and Why Assess It?

Weighted Governance Score Formula

Score = 0.20×Governance + 0.20×Risk + 0.15×Transparency + 0.15×Privacy + 0.15×Fairness + 0.15×Compliance