Identify
Record the risks associated with each AI use case, supplier and system.
UK AI GOVERNANCE RESOURCE
Is your organisation aligned with the UK Government's approach to AI risk management?
A plain-English introduction to the Government's approach to identifying, assessing, treating, monitoring and reporting risks across the AI lifecycle.
WHY IT MATTERS
AI risk management is an ongoing leadership discipline.
The toolkit explains that AI risk should be managed throughout a system's lifecycle—from identifying a use case through procurement, deployment, monitoring and retirement. It calls for multidisciplinary involvement, a named governance lead, defined risk appetite and visible ownership.
Assess
Score likelihood and impact consistently, taking organisational risk appetite into account.
Treat
Choose whether to avoid, limit, transfer or accept each material risk.
Own
Give risks, controls and treatment actions clearly accountable owners.
Monitor
Reassess risks throughout the AI lifecycle as tools, data, use and regulation change.
Report
Give leadership a clear view of exposure, controls, actions and decisions required.
NINE RISK CATEGORIES
A wider view than technology risk alone.
The Government toolkit prompts teams to examine nine connected categories. Together they help expose where financial loss, legal exposure, operational failure or loss of trust could arise.
01Financial risk
02Legal and regulatory compliance
03Transparency and explainability
04Fairness
05Accountability and governance
06Contestability and redress
07Technical robustness
08Security
09Risks to people and the environment
FROM GUIDANCE TO ACTION
ARI helps make the questions organisation-specific.
- Assess current AI strategy/readiness and governance arrangements.
- Identify material gaps, risks and evidence requirements.
- Prioritise practical treatments and accountable actions.
- Present findings through a professionally reviewed Executive Report.
- Create a focused roadmap for safer, commercially valuable adoption.
LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS
What should your organisation be able to answer?
Who is ultimately accountable for each material AI system and its outcomes?
Which AI risks sit above the organisation's agreed appetite or tolerance?
Can leadership see every current, proposed and supplier-embedded AI use case?
How are financial, legal, security, fairness and reputational impacts scored?
What evidence shows that controls and treatments are working in practice?
When will each AI risk be reviewed, escalated, corrected, paused or accepted?
HOW ARI SUPPORTS ACTION
From government principle to organisation-specific decision support.
| Government toolkit principle | How ARI supports it |
|---|---|
| Identify AI risks | Structured readiness and risk assessment |
| Score likelihood and impact | Prioritised risk scoring |
| Define risk appetite | Leadership and governance review |
| Assign accountability | Ownership and responsibility recommendations |
| Select treatments | Practical risk-treatment roadmap |
| Monitor throughout the lifecycle | Review actions, measures and reporting |
| Report risks | Board-ready Executive Report |
ASSESS YOUR POSITION
Could your organisation evidence how its AI risks are managed?
Start with the free check or explore ARI™ for a structured assessment, prioritised roadmap and Executive Report.
Official source and important notice
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This independent unoui resource is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. ARI is not approved, certified or endorsed by the UK Government.