ISO 42001 Visual Library – AI Management System Infographic Cards

ISO 42001 Overview

These cards show the complete ISO/IEC 42001:2023 AI Management System structure, covering mandatory Clauses 4–10 and the optional Annex A controls.

ISO 42001 Overview - Humorous Infographic — ISO 42001 AI Management System Overview — Humorous Infographic

What's New in the ISO 42001 Visual Library

May 2026: Twelve new AI Principles cards covering the six core responsible AI concepts — Fairness, Transparency, Accountability, Human Oversight, Privacy, and Safety and Reliability — each available as a professional infographic and a humorous version. These complement the ISO/IEC 42001 clause and Annex A material with the underlying AI governance principles auditors and practitioners refer to most often.

Also recent: the Audit Readiness mini-deck — five card pairs on what an ISO 42001 auditor actually looks for, evidence versus good intentions, strong versus weak evidence examples, common audit failure modes across Annex A, and how to talk about controls confidently during a certification audit.

Coming next: reference cards on the ISO 42001 certification path, ISO 42001 versus ISO 27001, EU AI Act alignment, common implementation failure modes, and AI policy templates. See the full changelog on GitHub.

ISO 42001 Clause Memory Cards

Simple memory cards for quick recall. Each card reduces one clause to its core keyword. Professional simple cards use a clean minimal style; funny simple cards use a strong visual hook.

ISO 42001 Professional Simple Memory Cards

ISO 42001 Clause 4 Context of the Organisation - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 4 — Context of the Organisation

ISO 42001 Clause 5 Leadership - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 5 — Leadership

ISO 42001 Clause 6 Planning - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 6 — Planning

ISO 42001 Clause 7 Support - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 7 — Support

ISO 42001 Clause 8 Operation - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 8 — Operation

ISO 42001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 9 — Performance Evaluation

ISO 42001 Clause 10 Improvement - Professional Simple Memory Card — Clause 10 — Improvement

ISO 42001 Humorous Simple Memory Cards

ISO 42001 Clause 4 Context of the Organisation - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 4 — Context of the Organisation

ISO 42001 Clause 5 Leadership - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 5 — Leadership

ISO 42001 Clause 6 Planning - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 6 — Planning

ISO 42001 Clause 7 Support - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 7 — Support

ISO 42001 Clause 8 Operation - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 8 — Operation

ISO 42001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 9 — Performance Evaluation

ISO 42001 Clause 10 Improvement - Humorous Simple Memory Card — Clause 10 — Improvement

Simple memory cards for ISO 42001 Clauses 4 to 10 — quick keyword recall for study, training, and awareness sessions.

ISO 42001 Clause Cards

Clauses 4–10 are the mandatory requirements of ISO 42001 — every organisation must implement them. Each clause builds on the previous one, forming a management system cycle.

Clause	Professional Infographic	Humorous Infographic
Clause 4Context of the Organisation	ISO 42001 Clause 4 Context of the Organisation — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 4 Context of the Organisation — Humorous Infographic
Clause 5Leadership	ISO 42001 Clause 5 Leadership — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 5 Leadership — Humorous Infographic
Clause 6Planning	ISO 42001 Clause 6 Planning — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 6 Planning — Humorous Infographic
Clause 7Support	ISO 42001 Clause 7 Support — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 7 Support — Humorous Infographic
Clause 8Operation	ISO 42001 Clause 8 Operation — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 8 Operation — Humorous Infographic
Clause 9Performance Evaluation	ISO 42001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation — Humorous Infographic
Clause 10Improvement	ISO 42001 Clause 10 Improvement — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Clause 10 Improvement — Humorous Infographic

Full infographic cards for ISO 42001 Clauses 4 to 10 — the mandatory requirements every organisation must implement for ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification.

ISO 42001 Annex A Domain Cards

Annex A is the operational core of ISO 42001. Controls are grouped into four domains: Governance, Organisation, Operation, and Relationships. Organisations select controls based on their AI risks, context, and objectives.

ISO 42001 Annex A Overview - Professional Domain Infographic — ISO 42001 Annex A Overview — Professional Domain Infographic

ISO 42001 Annex A Overview - Humorous Domain Infographic — ISO 42001 Annex A Overview — Humorous Domain Infographic

Domain	Professional Infographic	Humorous Infographic
Governance	ISO 42001 Annex A Governance Domain — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A Governance Domain — Humorous Infographic
Organisation	ISO 42001 Annex A Organisation Domain — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A Organisation Domain — Humorous Infographic
Operation	ISO 42001 Annex A Operation Domain — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A Operation Domain — Humorous Infographic
Relationships	ISO 42001 Annex A Relationships Domain — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A Relationships Domain — Humorous Infographic

Domain-level cards for ISO 42001 Annex A — Governance, Organisation, Operation, and Relationships controls for responsible AI management.

ISO 42001 Annex A Control Cards

Recommended governance measures that help organisations manage AI systems responsibly. Controls A.2 through A.10 cover the full range of AI management responsibilities.

Control	Professional Infographic	Humorous Infographic
A.2Policies Related to AI	ISO 42001 Annex A.2 Policies Related to AI — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.2 Policies Related to AI — Humorous Infographic
A.3Internal Organisation	ISO 42001 Annex A.3 Internal Organisation — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.3 Internal Organisation — Humorous Infographic
A.4Resources for AI Systems	ISO 42001 Annex A.4 Resources for AI Systems — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.4 Resources for AI Systems — Humorous Infographic
A.5Assessing Impacts of AI Systems	ISO 42001 Annex A.5 Assessing Impacts of AI Systems — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.5 Assessing Impacts of AI Systems — Humorous Infographic
A.6AI System Life Cycle	ISO 42001 Annex A.6 AI System Life Cycle — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.6 AI System Life Cycle — Humorous Infographic
A.7Data for AI Systems	ISO 42001 Annex A.7 Data for AI Systems — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.7 Data for AI Systems — Humorous Infographic
A.8Information for Interested Parties	ISO 42001 Annex A.8 Information for Interested Parties — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.8 Information for Interested Parties — Humorous Infographic
A.9Use of AI Systems	ISO 42001 Annex A.9 Use of AI Systems — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.9 Use of AI Systems — Humorous Infographic
A.10Third-Party and Customer Relationships	ISO 42001 Annex A.10 Third-Party and Customer Relationships — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Annex A.10 Third-Party and Customer Relationships — Humorous Infographic

Control-level cards covering ISO 42001 Annex A controls A.2 through A.10 — from AI policies and internal organisation to third-party and customer relationships.

ISO 42001 Audit Readiness Cards

Five cards to help you prepare for ISO 42001 audits. Covers what auditors actually look for, the difference between strong and weak evidence, common failure patterns across Annex A, and how to talk about controls confidently.

Card	Professional Infographic	Humorous Infographic
Audit-01What an Auditor Actually Looks For	ISO 42001 Audit-01 What an Auditor Actually Looks For — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Audit-01 What an Auditor Actually Looks For — Humorous Infographic
Audit-02Evidence vs Good Intentions	ISO 42001 Audit-02 Evidence vs Good Intentions — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Audit-02 Evidence vs Good Intentions — Humorous Infographic
Audit-03Strong vs Weak Evidence Examples	ISO 42001 Audit-03 Strong vs Weak Evidence Examples — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Audit-03 Strong vs Weak Evidence Examples — Humorous Infographic
Audit-04Common Audit Failure Modes Across Annex A	ISO 42001 Audit-04 Common Audit Failure Modes Across Annex A — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Audit-04 Common Audit Failure Modes Across Annex A — Humorous Infographic
Audit-05How to Talk About Controls Confidently	ISO 42001 Audit-05 How to Talk About Controls Confidently — Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 Audit-05 How to Talk About Controls Confidently — Humorous Infographic

ISO 42001 audit readiness cards — auditor expectations, evidence standards, common Annex A failure patterns, and how to communicate controls confidently.

ISO 42001 AI Principles Cards

Core responsible AI concepts that support practical AI governance and AIMS thinking. Covers fairness, transparency, accountability, human oversight, privacy, and safety and reliability.

These cards are learning aids. They do not add new ISO/IEC 42001 requirements and should not be treated as a replacement for the official standard.

Principle	Professional Infographic	Humorous Infographic
Principle-01Fairness	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Fairness Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Fairness Humorous Infographic
Principle-02Transparency	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Transparency Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Transparency Humorous Infographic
Principle-03Accountability	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Accountability Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Accountability Humorous Infographic
Principle-04Human Oversight	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Human Oversight Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Human Oversight Humorous Infographic
Principle-05Privacy	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Privacy Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Privacy Humorous Infographic
Principle-06Safety and Reliability	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Safety and Reliability Professional Infographic	ISO 42001 AI Principles — Safety and Reliability Humorous Infographic

AI principles cards — fairness, transparency, accountability, human oversight, privacy, and safety and reliability as core responsible AI governance concepts.

ISO 42001 Archive Variants

Earlier infographic cards superseded by the current designs. Content remains accurate — use these if you prefer the format.

ISO 42001 Archive - Manage AI Like a Boss Variant Card — ISO 42001 — Manage AI Like a Boss (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 8 Operation Variant Card — Clause 8 Operation (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 10 Improvement Variant Card — Clause 10 Improvement (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 8 Operation Mission Control Variant Card — Clause 8 Operation Mission Control (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - A.5 Assessing Impact of AI Systems Variant Card — A.5 Assessing Impact of AI Systems (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Annex A Domain Operation Variant Card — Annex A Domain Operation (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 2 Card — Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 2 (Archive)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 3 Card — Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 3 (Archive)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 7 Support Variant Card — Clause 7 Support (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 1 Card — Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant 1 (Archive)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 5 Leadership Variant Card — Clause 5 Leadership (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - A.10 Third-Party and Customer Relationships Variant Card — A.10 Third-Party and Customer Relationships (Archive Variant)

ISO 42001 Archive - Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Variant Card — Clause 9 Performance Evaluation (Archive Variant)

Earlier ISO 42001 infographic card variants — Clause 8, Clause 9, Clause 10, Annex A.5, Annex A.10, and the Annex A domain overview.

ISO 42001 Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISO/IEC 42001?

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an AI Management System (AIMS). Published in December 2023, it is the world's first certifiable standard specifically for AI governance. It is a governance standard, not a technical one — it does not tell you how to build AI systems, it tells you how to govern them responsibly.

Who is ISO 42001 for?

Any organisation that develops, deploys, or uses AI systems — of any size and in any sector. Proportionality is built into the standard's design: controls and obligations are calibrated to the nature, scale, and context of the organisation's AI activities, so a small team using third-party AI tools can apply it as meaningfully as a large AI developer.

What are Clauses 4 to 10?

Clauses 4–10 are the mandatory requirements of ISO 42001: Context of the Organisation, Leadership, Planning, Support, Operation, Performance Evaluation, and Improvement. Together they form a Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle, and every organisation seeking certification must implement all of them. They follow the ISO High Level Structure also used by ISO 27001 and ISO 9001.

What is Annex A?

Annex A contains 38 normative controls covering AI policies, roles, resources, impact assessment, the AI system life cycle, data, transparency to interested parties, use of AI, and third-party relationships. Organisations select controls based on their AI risks and record the selection in a Statement of Applicability — once selected, a control becomes mandatory for that organisation.

Can an organisation get certified against ISO 42001?

Yes. ISO/IEC 42001 is a certifiable management system standard, meaning accredited certification bodies can audit an organisation's AI Management System and issue a certificate — the same model used for ISO 27001 and ISO 9001. Because it shares the ISO High Level Structure, it can be integrated with those existing management systems rather than run as a separate programme.

Are these cards free to use?

Yes. Every card in the ISO 42001 Visual Library is released under the MIT Licence — free to use, share, adapt, or include in commercial work, for study, training, presentations, or audit preparation. This is an independent learning resource and is not a replacement for the official ISO/IEC 42001 standard text.

If these cards were useful, the library lives on GitHub, where a star helps other people find it.