National Institute of Standards and Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its work advances measurement science, standards and technology across many fields. In artificial intelligence, NIST develops research, evaluation resources and guidance intended to help organizations understand and manage risks.

NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework is voluntary guidance for incorporating trustworthiness considerations into the design, development, use and evaluation of AI systems. Its core asks organizations to define responsibilities, document the context in which a system will operate and address human oversight and risk throughout the system’s lifecycle. For an organization introducing AI into a workflow, the framework offers a way to ask who is accountable, what the system is meant to do and how problems will be identified. It does not certify that following the framework will make any particular deployment safe or effective.