ISO/IEC 42001: Trustworthy Certification in the Age of AI

Sep 24, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing and being adopted rapidly in many industries, products and services. Undoubtedly, AI is influencing, and will further influence, society and our lives.

Due to this progress and influence, trust, ethics and social concerns must be addressed. AI must be reliable, fair and transparent – it must be trustworthy.

Addressing uncertainty in the age of AI

In response to the rise of AI and its challenges, the ISO and IEC created the world’s first AI management system (AIMS) standard to provide guidance for this rapidly changing technology. ISO/IEC 42001:2023 provides a certifiable AIMS framework in which AI systems can be developed and deployed as part of an AI assurance ecosystem.

This global standard specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an AIMS. It addresses AI’s unique challenges, such as ethical considerations, transparency and continuous learning.

The goal is to help organizations and society benefit the most from AI while reassuring stakeholders that systems are being developed and used responsibly. It outlines a structured way to manage risks and opportunities, balancing innovation and governance.

Who is it for?

ISO/IEC 42001 is for any organization or professional looking to implement AI safely.

Because AI systems are complex, implementing an AIMS requires a truly multidisciplinary approach. Depending on the use case, this may include legal, privacy, operations, marketing, R&D, sales, HR, IT and risk managers.

What are the key benefits?

Certification follows successful completion of an audit and enables you to:

Implement AI safely, with evidence of responsibility and accountability
Consider security, safety, fairness, transparency, and data and AI system quality throughout the life cycle
Show that introducing AI is a strategic decision with clear objectives
Indicate strong governance concerning AI
Ensure that AI is used responsibly, especially concerning its continuous learning
Ensure that all relevant safeguards are in place
Integrate leading frameworks, including the EU AI Act and NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF), into your operational reality
Streamline risk, life cycle and data quality management with proven processes
Save money and gain efficiency
Contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14

Advancing with a proven partner

Combining our world-leading testing, inspection and certification experience with decades of digital trust expertise, our ISO/IEC 42001 experts will guide you every step of the way, from knowledge-gathering to implementing and showcasing a fully functioning AIMS.

To implement an AIMS, you will need a solid understanding of ISO/IEC 42001’s requirements. Our digital trust training experts offer key ISO/IEC 42001 courses, providing the required knowledge to ensure best practice and peace of mind.

Once the system is in place, we can provide a gap assessment. We will evaluate your system(s) against ISO/IEC 42001 requirements, identifying strengths and pinpointing improvement areas. This critical step helps you prioritize actions, reduce risks and accelerate your path to certification.

With ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) ISO/IEC 42001 accreditation, we will guide you through the entire certification process. After the successful completion of an audit, we will issue your certificate, confirming that your AIMS is robust, compliant and future-ready.

Many firsts across the world

Among its growing achievements, our global network of experts has ensured:

Whatever your industry, size, location and AI technology, our comprehensive ISO/IEC 42001 services are ready to support your mission.

For further information, please contact:

Michal Cichocki
Global Product Manager – AI
Global Innovation, Mobility & Digital Trust
t: +48 22 329 22 22

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

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