Who authorized it?
Know who approved the use case, model, data access and scope of action.
Governance
AI governance is not about slowing innovation down. It is about knowing what AI is being used, what it can access, what it can do, who is responsible and what evidence remains.
From intelligence to action
Five questions
Know who approved the use case, model, data access and scope of action.
Define which sources are permitted, how sensitive information is handled and what context is appropriate.
Separate what the system may recommend from what it may execute, modify or approve.
Design review, approval and escalation for sensitive decisions, exceptions and uncertainty.
Retain the records needed to reconstruct what happened, why it happened and who was involved.
Monitor outcomes, incidents, model changes and new requirements so governance evolves with the system.
Operating model
Governance starts with visibility. An organization needs to know where AI is being used — including third-party tools, embedded capabilities and employee-created workflows.
From there, controls should reflect the risk and consequence of the use case. A summarization assistant does not need the same oversight as an agent that can approve a payment or change a customer record.
Governance is not only about controlling AI. It is about being able to demonstrate how AI is controlled.
What governance connects
Know which models, agents, automations and embedded AI capabilities are actually in use.
Connect AI use to privacy, security, sector requirements, internal policy and management systems.
Limit tools, credentials, data sources and actions to what the use case genuinely requires.
Place people where judgment, accountability, uncertainty or material consequences require them.
Watch performance, exceptions, incidents and model or provider changes after deployment.
Keep logs, approvals, versions, sources and decisions so the process can be explained and audited.
Related insight
A useful test for governance is simple: after the AI acts, can your organization reconstruct what information it received, what rules applied, whether human approval was required, what action occurred and what evidence remains?