AI & Governance Glossary
Clear definitions of AI adoption, governance, compliance, and EU AI Act terminology. Understand the key concepts behind successful enterprise AI implementation.
What is AI Governance?
AI governance is the framework of policies, processes, and organisational controls that ensure artificial intelligence systems are developed, deployed, and operated responsibly, ethically, and in compliance with applicable regulations. It encompasses risk management, human oversight, transparency, accountability, and continuous monitoring of AI systems throughout their lifecycle.
Learn moreWhat is the EU AI Act?
The EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) is the European Union's comprehensive legal framework for regulating artificial intelligence. Adopted in 2024, it is the world's first binding regulation specifically governing AI systems. The Act classifies AI systems into four risk categories and imposes specific obligations on both AI providers (those who develop AI) and deployers (those who use AI in their operations).
Learn moreWhat is AI Adoption?
AI adoption is the systematic process by which organisations integrate artificial intelligence technologies into their business operations, workflows, and decision-making. It encompasses everything from initial readiness assessment and use case identification through implementation, governance, measurement, and continuous improvement. Successful AI adoption requires alignment across strategy, technology, people, processes, and governance — not just tool deployment.
Learn moreWhat is Shadow AI?
Shadow AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools, applications, and services by employees without the knowledge, approval, or oversight of their organisation's IT or governance teams. Similar to shadow IT, shadow AI creates unmanaged risk because these tools may process sensitive data, make consequential decisions, or violate regulatory requirements — all outside the organisation's security and compliance controls.
Learn moreWhat is AI Readiness?
AI readiness is a measure of how well-prepared an organisation is to successfully adopt, implement, and benefit from artificial intelligence technologies. It assesses the organisation's current capabilities, infrastructure, culture, and governance structures across multiple dimensions to identify strengths, gaps, and priorities for AI investment. AI readiness is not binary — it is a spectrum measured across multiple dimensions, each at different maturity levels.
Learn moreWhat is an AI Agent?
An AI agent is a software system that can perceive its environment, process information, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals — often with varying degrees of autonomy. Unlike traditional software that follows fixed rules, AI agents can adapt their behaviour based on context, learn from interactions, and operate with minimal human supervision. In enterprise settings, AI agents range from simple chatbots to complex autonomous systems that manage workflows, make decisions, and interact with multiple tools and data sources.
Learn moreWhat is AI Compliance?
AI compliance refers to the practice of ensuring that an organisation's use of artificial intelligence systems conforms to applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies. It encompasses regulatory compliance (such as the EU AI Act), ethical guidelines, data protection requirements (GDPR), sector-specific rules, and voluntary standards. AI compliance is not a one-time checkbox — it requires ongoing monitoring, documentation, and adaptation as both regulations and AI systems evolve.
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