As AI use grows, organizations are adopting audits to manage some of the risks associated with their use. In a recent Harvard Business Review article (Belli, 2025), a machine learning expert offered a streamlined approach to guide business leaders through the dynamic AI audit process.
THE STEPS TO AN AI AUDIT
Lay the groundwork: The author emphasizes building a culture of trust and normalizing internal audits. This may reduce employee anxiety and help them prepare for external evaluations.
Build structure: Create an internal auditing team, centralized to oversee the entire organization or distributed to manage audits within individual units. The author suggests the team’s structure should align with the organization’s specific needs. Involving a representative from each area may ensure full coverage of AI across an organization.
Engage at the right level: The author explains that it’s best to remain aware of what is occurring during an AI audit, without hovering too closely over the process. This will help leaders serve as a source of insight when necessary, while also ensuring honest documentation from employees.
Remove roadblocks: The author recommends that leaders adjust auditing responsibilities, particularly when a unit is experiencing change. For example, a leader can assist by assigning support from another team or helping the team prioritize its most critical tasks.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES
The field of AI auditing is still evolving. Organizations benefit when leaders set an example and communicate expectations before and throughout the auditing process. By developing a culture of trust and honesty and providing steady support for employees navigating the AI auditing process, leaders can make the experience easier to manage and ultimately more successful.
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