ISO 42001: the first international standard for AI governance
Published in 2023, ISO/IEC 42001 is establishing itself as the reference standard for AI management systems. What it requires and why it matters in LATAM.
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the first certifiable international standard for artificial intelligence management systems (AIMS). Although voluntary, it is rapidly becoming the reference enterprise customers, regulators and corporate buyers demand from AI providers.
What ISO 42001 requires
The standard follows ISO's high-level structure (similar to ISO 27001 or 9001) and focuses on how an organization manages the full lifecycle of AI systems:
- AI governance: clear roles, responsibilities and policies for use, development and deployment of AI.
- Risk management: identification and assessment of ethical, technical, social and compliance risks.
- Lifecycle: documentation of training data, models, validation, post-deployment monitoring.
- Stakeholder impact: assessment of effects on customers, employees, society and fundamental rights.
- Continuous improvement: audits, metrics and periodic review processes.
Why it matters in LATAM
Three concrete reasons. First, LATAM companies selling to global customers will begin to see it as an RFP requirement throughout 2026. Second, Chile's Law 21.719 and Brazil's upcoming AI regulation will align with ISO principles. Third, certifying ISO 42001 early provides a real competitive edge against competitors with no formal governance framework.
How to prepare
The first step is a complete inventory of AI systems in use (including shadow AI). Without knowing what we have in production, no certification is achievable. Then: define roles (AI owner, ethics committee), document the lifecycle and establish continuous monitoring. GOBERNANZA.IO includes a dedicated ISO 42001 module with templates, evidence and pre-loaded workflows.