I Built It Before I Read the Standard

· Source: Deep Learning on Medium · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Human Resources & Workforce Development, Corporate Strategy & Leadership · Depth: Novice, medium

Summary

Tony Thomas argues that practical, hands-on experience building an agentic AI system provided deeper insights into AI governance than studying frameworks alone. Despite lacking an AI governance certificate, the author, with 20 years in HR and training, built a system and then mapped it to standards like NIST's AI Risk Management Framework, ISO 42001, and Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework. This "build, then map" approach revealed critical behavioral challenges, such as human override decisions on a shop floor or an AI system's inability to explain its decisions, which abstract frameworks often overlook. The author contends that AI governance is fundamentally about human-system interaction and behavior design, making expertise from HR and Learning & Development highly relevant and currently under-represented in the field.

Key takeaway

For HR or L&D professionals considering involvement in AI governance, your practical experience in behavior design and change management is invaluable. Build a small AI system first, then deliberately map it to frameworks like NIST AI RMF, rather than waiting for certifications. This hands-on approach reveals human-system interaction challenges abstract standards miss, allowing you to contribute a vital, overlooked perspective.

Key insights

Hands-on AI system building before studying governance frameworks offers deeper, more practical understanding of human-system interaction challenges.

Principles

Method

Build something small before studying the framework in full. Map what you built to an existing framework afterward, deliberately.

In practice

Topics

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Executive, HR Professional, Director of AI/ML, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Deep Learning on Medium.