Navigating Global AI Regulations: Implications and Advice for Third-Party Risk Management Programs

This whitepaper examines the rapidly evolving global landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and its implications for Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) programs. As AI adoption accelerates, regulators across the EU, United States, UK, Canada, and international standards bodies are introducing laws, guidance, and frameworks to address risks such as bias, data privacy, lack of transparency, and misuse of AI systems. The paper highlights how fragmented, jurisdiction-specific regulations—ranging from the EU’s risk-based AI Act to U.S. state laws and NIST guidance—create compliance complexity for organizations managing third-party vendors.

• Global AI regulations are increasing rapidly, creating a complex, multi-jurisdictional compliance environment.
• TPRM programs must expand vendor due diligence to address AI-specific risks such as bias, transparency, and data misuse.
• Standards like NIST AI RMF and ISO 42001 provide practical foundations for consistent AI risk governance.

Looking ahead, AI regulation is expected to intensify and converge globally. Organizations that proactively embed AI governance into their third-party risk management frameworks will be better positioned to reduce compliance risk, maintain trust, and safely leverage AI-driven innovation.