Expertise is essential for the responsible development and use of AI. Are you interested in furthering your education in AI governance and/or compliance, and considering the Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) or the Certified Artificial Intelligence Compliance Officer (CAICO®), but unsure which one suits you best? In this blog, I explain the AIGP training and the CAICO® course and set out the differences.
Before exploring the AIGP and CAICO®, it is important to distinguish more clearly between the concepts of governance and compliance. These terms are often used interchangeably.
AI governance: controlling AI
AI governance concerns the control of AI systems and (GP)AI models (for ease of reference in this blog: “AI”) within an organisation. It revolves around policies, frameworks, roles, accountability structures and oversight throughout the entire AI lifecycle, from design and development to implementation and use. Governance is not a checklist, but a functioning system that enables organisations to steer and manage AI-related risks.
Key questions include: is this AI controllable, and are the right people involved in decision-making? Governance primarily belongs in the first line of the organisation: the teams that design, build and use AI. They must understand where the risks lie and how to manage them. Governance therefore forms the foundation of responsible AI development and use.
AI compliance: assessment and demonstrability
Where AI governance focuses on steering and controlling AI within the organisation, AI compliance supports and monitors this process. AI compliance constitutes the second line of defence within the governance structure: the function that assists the first line, the teams developing and using AI, in correctly applying policies and legislation and subsequently assesses whether this is done effectively and demonstrably in practice. Compliance therefore evaluates whether governance policies work and whether risks are genuinely being managed.
AI compliance broadly consists of three layers. The first layer is compliance with legislation, such as the AI Act, and other frameworks relating to product safety, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, the digital economy, markets and society, and inclusivity. The second layer concerns compliance with internal policies and ethical frameworks: organisations must not only meet external requirements but also demonstrate that their own policies and (core) values are genuinely upheld. The third layer is demonstrability and effectiveness: documenting, monitoring and auditing measures to prove that governance works in practice.
AI compliance therefore goes beyond legislation alone. It is an ongoing process of assessment and improvement, bringing together legal, technical and organisational perspectives. AI compliance is the verifiable side of governance, the proof that policies, oversight and ethical principles function effectively in practice.
AIGP and CAICO®: two perspectives
Both the AIGP and CAICO® focus on the responsible development and use of AI, but from different perspectives. The AIGP, certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), is intended for international professionals who wish to deepen their expertise in governance: the strategic and policy framework surrounding AI. The CAICO®, certified by the Centre for Certified Legal and Tech Expertise (CCLTE), focuses specifically on the practical implementation of compliance within the European framework of the AI Act.
Where the AIGP concentrates on principles and frameworks such as the OECD, NIST and ISO models, the CAICO® explores the application of legislation in concrete processes in greater depth. The AIGP is delivered in English and internationally recognised. The CAICO® is offered in Dutch or English and is specifically geared towards European practice. In this way, the two complement one another: one focuses on policy and strategy (governance), the other on adherence and implementation (compliance).
AIGP: learning to think in terms of international AI governance
The AIGP teaches you to speak the language of AI governance in an international context. The training covers global AI principles and ethical frameworks, such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. This makes the training ideal for professionals who wish to understand international standards and embed governance at board level.
Participants learn how governance can be used as a strategic instrument to manage risks, safeguard ethical principles and underpin decision-making. It is a training for those who want to steer and shape AI at organisational level, both during development and in operational use.
CAICO®: compliance in the practice of the AI Act
The CAICO® translates the requirements of, among others, the AI Act (in light of the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI) and the GDPR into practical application within organisations. The course covers how to conduct risk assessments, comply with documentation obligations, organise internal controls and facilitate cooperation between legal and technical disciplines.
The focus lies on the day-to-day reality of compliance: how do you design processes in such a way that you can demonstrate that an AI system meets European requirements, from development through to deployment? The CAICO® is therefore strongly practice-oriented and closely aligned with the responsibilities imposed by the AI Act on providers and deployers.
The choice: strategy or implementation, or both?
Ultimately, the choice between the AIGP and CAICO® depends on your role and ambitions within the AI domain. Those who wish to shape policy and governance at a strategic level will find in the AIGP a training that teaches structured thinking in terms of frameworks, principles and accountability throughout the AI lifecycle. Those who are responsible for compliance, assessment and documentation in practice will find a stronger fit with the CAICO®. The CAICO® examines in depth the obligations arising from, among others, the AI Act and the GDPR, and focuses on the practical side of compliance.
Both programmes complement one another. Where the AIGP addresses governance in a broad sense, from policy to organisational structure and development, the CAICO® concentrates on the day-to-day reality of compliance during both the development and use of AI. Together, they form two pillars of responsible AI: governance provides direction, compliance ensures assurance.
Have you been inspired by this blog to further develop your expertise in AI? Register for our AIGP training or CAICO® course, or explore our complete AI offering to discover what suits you best.
