As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, organizations face growing pressure to ensure their AI systems are responsible, ethical, and safe. Recognizing this need, ISO and IEC have released a groundbreaking new standard: ISO/IEC 42005:2025 – Information technology— Artificial intelligence— AI system impact assessment.
Published on April 17, 2025, and developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42/WG 1, this standard offers a structured approach to assessing the potential impacts of AI systems on individuals, communities, organizations, and society as a whole.
What ISO/IEC 42005 delivers
ISO/IEC 42005 defines the requirements and guidelines for conducting AI system impact assessments throughout the lifecycle of an AI solution, from design and development to deployment, monitoring, and decommissioning.
Key features include:
- Identification of Potential Impacts: Helping organizations recognize where an AI system may cause harm, create bias, infringe on rights, or produce unintended consequences.
- Risk Assessment Integration: Offering methods to assess the severity, likelihood, and nature of AI-driven risks, integrating these into broader organizational risk management processes.
- Mitigation Planning: Encouraging proactive planning to prevent, minimize, or manage negative impacts, with an emphasis on transparency, human oversight, and accountability.
- Lifecycle Approach: Recognizing that risks and impacts evolve, the standard promotes continuous evaluation and monitoring rather than a one-time assessment.
Why it matters
In today’s environment, trust in AI technologies is critical. Regulators, consumers, investors, and civil society are increasingly demanding that organizations demonstrate responsible AI practices. ISO/IEC 42005 provides an internationally recognized framework that helps organizations:
- Fulfill ethical and regulatory obligations.
- Develop more robust and trustworthy AI systems.
- Enhance transparency with stakeholders.
- Reduce legal, reputational, and operational risks associated with AI deployments.
Importantly, this standard supports alignment with emerging AI regulations, such as the EU’s AI Act and proposed legislation in other jurisdictions, offering a common language and practical roadmap for compliance and responsible innovation.
Who should use ISO/IEC 42005?
ISO/IEC 42005 is relevant for a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- AI system developers and data scientists
- Risk managers and compliance officers
- Ethics and governance committees
- IT managers and system integrators
- Policymakers and regulators evaluating AI accountability frameworks
Whether you are building AI tools internally, procuring AI solutions, or setting governance policies for AI use, ISO/IEC 42005 offers a powerful tool to guide impact assessment and risk mitigation.
Moving forward
The release of ISO/IEC 42005 marks an essential milestone in the evolution of AI governance. It complements other critical standards from ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, such as ISO/IEC 22989 (AI concepts and terminology) and ISO/IEC 23894 (AI risk management).
At StandardsHero, we are committed to helping organizations understand and apply these critical frameworks, turning high-level standards into real-world strategies for responsible AI adoption.
Stay tuned for upcoming insights and practical guides on implementing ISO/IEC 42005 in your AI projects!