By Olivia Dubois
·
March 17, 2026
AI governance (or artificial intelligence governance) refers to the set of policies, processes, roles, and tools an organization puts in place to manage the use of artificial intelligence in a responsible, ethical, secure, and compliant manner.
AI governance goes beyond regulatory compliance: it encompasses the AI adoption strategy, risk management, transparency toward stakeholders, and alignment with business objectives.
According to Gartner, over 50% of enterprises were using generative AI in 2025, up from just 5% in 2023. This massive — and often ungoverned — adoption (Shadow AI) creates an urgent need for governance.
Europe has established the most comprehensive regulatory framework for AI in the world:
Without AI governance, organizations are exposed to:
Document the AI systems in use, their purposes, the data they process, and the decisions they influence. Users should know when they are interacting with an AI system.
Assign clear ownership for each AI system: a business owner, a technical lead, and a compliance officer. Executive liability is explicitly provided for under NIS2 and DORA.
Ensure AI systems do not produce discriminatory bias. Implement testing and auditing processes for AI outputs.
Guarantee that data used by AI systems is protected, that transfers outside the EU are properly governed, and that providers meet required security standards.
AI governance is not a one-time project. It requires ongoing monitoring of usage, risks, and compliance.
Identify all AI tools and systems used across the organization, including Shadow AI. Platforms like Avanoo automate this discovery process.
Classify each AI system according to the EU AI Act risk categories:
Define:
Train employees on AI usage best practices, managers on governance, and executives on their accountability. Avanoo offers targeted awareness campaigns.
Conduct regular compliance audits, track risk indicators, and adapt policies as usage, technologies, and regulations evolve.
An increasing number of organizations are creating a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) role or appointing an AI governance lead within the IT department. This role includes:
Shadow AI Expert & Chief AI Officer
Olivia Dubois is Shadow AI Expert and Chief AI Officer at Avanoo. An HEC Paris graduate and former BCG consultant, she helps enterprises detect and govern Shadow AI and Shadow IT.
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