The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have formally published ISO/IEC 42005:2025, a new international standard providing guidance for organizations conducting AI system impact assessments. The document is designed to help organizations evaluate the societal, group, and individual impacts of artificial intelligence technologies—both intended and unintended—across the AI system lifecycle, according to ”babl.ai” .
Developed by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Subcommittee SC 42 on Artificial Intelligence, the new standard responds to growing global concerns about the ethical and societal consequences of AI systems. While AI offers benefits such as improved data analysis, automation, and innovation in fields like healthcare, ISO notes that these systems also carry risks of discriminatory outcomes, environmental harm, and job displacement.
ISO/IEC 42005 outlines a formal process to document, assess, and monitor the effects of AI systems, including sensitive and restricted uses, foreseeable misuse, and unintended applications. The standard applies to organizations of any size or sector, and emphasizes integration with broader AI governance and risk management practices—particularly ISO/IEC 42001 (AI management systems) and ISO/IEC 23894 (AI risk management).
Core elements of the assessment process include defining timing and scope, allocating responsibilities, setting evaluation thresholds, documenting findings, and establishing approval and review mechanisms. ISO encourages organizations to embed these assessments within their top-level governance structures and management systems, ensuring alignment with internal values and external regulatory expectations.
By fostering transparency and accountability, the new standard aims to help organizations demonstrate that the societal impacts of AI technologies have been thoughtfully considered. ISO describes AI impact assessments as a foundational tool for building public trust and aligning technical development with ethical obligations.
Read the full art. on ”babl.ai” .
Why is ISO/IEC 42005 important?
AI technologies are rapidly reshaping industries, economies and daily life — offering immense benefits, but also raising ethical, social and environmental concerns. ISO/IEC 42005 plays a crucial role in ensuring these impacts are responsibly addressed. By guiding organisations through structured impact assessments, it enables them to align AI development with values such as fairness, safety, and human-centred design. It also supports broader governance and risk management practices, reinforcing trust and societal acceptance of AI systems.
Benefits
- Strengthens stakeholder trust through transparent impact documentation
- Supports responsible innovation by addressing social and ethical risks
- Enhances alignment with governance, risk and compliance frameworks
- Improves internal decision-making and accountability across the AI lifecycle
- Encourages consistency and clarity in AI-related impact reporting.
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