Governance, Law & Compliance
Impact assessment
A review of how an AI system could affect people, rights, operations, or society.
Example
An impact assessment examines how an automated decision could affect customers and employees.
Why it matters
It helps decisions account for effects beyond whether the technology works as intended.
You'll hear it
“How would this change the experience of someone denied the service?”
Can you control it?
Yes
Yes. An organization can put an impact assessment in place through its policies, processes, records, training, or oversight structure. Individual users may participate without controlling the entire program.
Common questions
- Does it cover benefits as well as harms?
- It can. Understanding both helps compare options and identify who gains or loses.
- Can impacts differ between groups?
- Yes. The same system can affect people differently because of their circumstances or how it is used.
- Is a written assessment enough?
- No. Findings need to influence decisions, safeguards and follow-up work to have practical value.