Many organisations on this pathway will already have engaged with external frameworks such as ISO/IEC 42001 or the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. This practice builds on that foundation, encouraging a more structured and outward-looking approach to external standards, benchmarking, and peer learning.
For organisations operating in or supplying into regulated markets, external benchmarking also supports readiness for emerging regulatory expectations, such as the use of harmonised standards and post-market monitoring under the EU AI Act.
It supports organisations to evaluate the maturity of their AI governance, refine internal controls, and align more closely with evolving regulatory and ethical expectations. By referencing credible standards and participating in structured comparisons, teams can improve transparency, build confidence, and demonstrate responsible leadership.
Start by identifying the standards most relevant to your use cases or industry and apply them where they bring structure, clarity, or credibility. The focus here is on using recognised standards to guide internal improvement, test governance maturity, and align strategically with where AI expectations are heading.
At this stage, looking outward becomes essential. Engage with sector-specific or cross-cutting standards, share lessons learned, and contribute to benchmarking pilots to stay ahead of the curve.
Why it matters
AI regulations, standards, and public expectations are evolving fast. Without external reference points, it is easy for internal governance to drift or become difficult to explain. Aligning with recognised frameworks helps ensure your governance approach is credible, consistent, and defensible.
This practice also supports internal alignment and continuous improvement. External standards can help clarify roles, strengthen controls, and bring greater structure to internal reviews, in particular when navigating uncertainty or preparing for future demands.
Engaging externally also demonstrates maturity to partners, investors and auditors. It is a signal that your organisation takes governance seriously and is willing to learn, adapt, and share how you meet your responsibilities.
Implementation tips
- Start with a mapping exercise using a familiar standard to compare against your current practices and spot gaps or overlaps.
- Participate in surveys, industry pilots, or shared evaluations that provide fresh perspectives on your governance model.
- Prioritise standards that are gaining traction in your sector or region and apply them where they bring structure or clarity.
- Capture how your organisation aligns with external frameworks and use this to guide improvement.
- Where AI use has material environmental impact, align benchmarking with recognised sustainability or climate reporting standards already in use, such as GHG Protocol Corporate Standard or ISO 14064-1, to support consistent, auditable reporting rather than creating AI-specific measures.
- Join networks, working groups, or roundtables where your peers discuss governance practices. Contribute lessons learned to build collective progress. In the environmental space, the Green Foundation Software is a great choice.
Support materials
OECD – AI Policy Observatory & Global Index on AI
Comprehensive source of policy tools and comparative data that allow organisations to benchmark against national policies and practices globally.
NIST – AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) + Playbook
Benchmarking framework that includes a playbook with maturity-style prompts to assess your current state.
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Information technology — AI — Management system
Useful to benchmark readiness for certification and compliance across AI governance processes, from documentation to monitoring and controls.
Microsoft – Responsible AI Maturity Model
Offers a tiered approach to understanding where your organisation sits in its AI governance journey, with clear next steps.
GSMA Responsible AI Maturity Roadmap & Step-by-Step-Guide
A practical benchmarking tool designed for the telecoms industry but broadly applicable across sectors that includes example artefacts and evidence to support self-assessment. It is accompanied by a step-by-step guide.
Sustainable IT – IT Standards for Environmental, Social, and Governance Sustainability
IT-tailored ESG standards that provide a cross-industry, consistent set of topics and metrics for measuring, tracking and reporting technology’s ESG impact.
