Clause 10, Improvement
The standard assumes you will get things wrong; it audits what you do next. Every requirement area of Clause 10, verified against the published structure of ISO/IEC 42001:2023 on August 25, 2026.
Clause 10 closes the loop. Nonconformities get corrected, root causes get fixed, and the management system itself gets better over time.
In practice this clause is what makes certification mean anything past the first audit. AI systems drift, models get swapped, regulations move; a static system decays, and Clause 10 is the mechanism that catches the decay.
The requirement areas
- 10.1 Continual improvement
Continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the AI management system.
- 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action
When something fails, react, correct it, find the root cause, fix that, and review whether the fix worked.
Clause 10 is a discipline before it is a document
Reading the clause tells you what an auditor will look for. The AI Governance program drills the work itself, and the credential shows an employer you did it under assessment.
Clause and subclause identifiers follow ISO/IEC 42001:2023 exactly; the wording is our plain-English paraphrase, and the standard's full text is sold by ISO at iso.org/standard/81230.html. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ISO or the IEC. Last verified: August 25, 2026.