AI governance: transforming compliance into a lever for innovation

The client’s challenges

A large international banking group, engaged in a transformation accelerated by the rise of artificial intelligence in its business lines—from asset management to private banking and support functions—found itself facing several critical challenges. AI use cases were multiplying without a common framework, exposing the organization to increased risks in terms of bias, security, compliance, and explainability. This rapid evolution was also taking place in a context of growing regulatory pressure, notably with the European AI Act and the ISO 42001 standard.

In this changing landscape, the main challenge was to drive innovation while maintaining trust, risk control, and consistency of practices. Management wanted to move from an opportunistic approach, fragmented across entities, to structured, industrialized governance capable of anticipating regulatory and ethical requirements.

Our intervention: expertise and approach

Talan mobilized a multidisciplinary team (Data & AI, Risk, Compliance, IT, Change) to:

Map AI uses and associated risks across the entire group

• Co-develop an AI governance framework: group policy, roles and responsibilities, coordination with data governance
• Develop operational tools: AI model registry, risk matrices, validation procedures, compliance checklists
• Deploy a monitoring and reporting system to ensure traceability, auditability, and continuous improvement
• Train and acculturate teams (business lines, IT, compliance) on AI issues and the new governance
  
  The approach was based on collaborative workshops, the integration of international standards (ISO, OECD, EU AI Act) and adaptation to local specificities.

The results: before vs after

Before:

• Fragmented governance, dependent on local initiatives
• AI risks poorly identified, lack of centralized registry
• Difficulty responding to audits and regulatory requirements
• Innovation hampered by fear of risk

After:

• Cadre de gouvernance IA harmonisé, validé par la direction
• Registre centralisé des modèles IA, cartographie des risques et contrôles associés
• Procédures de validation, de surveillance et de reporting automatisées
• Capacité à anticiper et à démontrer la conformité (EU AI Act, …)
• Accélération de l’innovation responsable, confiance renforcée des métiers et des clients

A differentiating approach

The strength of the approach lies in its integrated vision: AI governance is designed as a natural extension of data governance and risk management. The tools, templates, and processes created enable industrialization across the group, while remaining pragmatic and adapted to operational realities. The involvement of stakeholders from the design stage, combined with a tailor-made acculturation and training strategy, ensured rapid and sustainable adoption.

Key takeaways

When well thought out, AI governance becomes a lever for compliance, trust, and innovation. A harmonized framework makes it possible to control risks while unlocking the potential of AI applications, and the industrialization of processes and the upskilling of teams are essential conditions for sustainable adoption.

With this approach, Talan helps organizations transform AI governance into a real competitive advantage.