Key facts
- Format: editable XLSX risk register with formulas built in.
- Pre-built risk categories: bias, safety, security, privacy, transparency, accountability and reputational risk.
- Impact × likelihood scoring model with a simple traffic-light output.
- Includes owner, control and review-date columns for each risk.
- Free to download — pairs with the AI risk management guide.
What is the AI risk register template?
It is a spreadsheet-based risk register purpose-built for AI risk rather than generic operational risk. Each row is a risk tied to a specific AI system from your AI inventory, scored by impact and likelihood, with an owner, existing controls and a next review date. The output is a single, living view of AI risk you can report up to the board.
Who is it for?
Risk, compliance and AI governance leads who need a working risk register today rather than a GRC platform implementation project. It scales from a five-system SME to a larger portfolio.
What the template covers
Risk categories. Bias and discrimination, safety, security, privacy, transparency, accountability, IP and reputational risk.
Scoring. Impact × likelihood, with guidance for weighting affected individuals and reversibility.
Ownership and controls. Named owner, existing controls and planned mitigations per risk.
Review cadence. Built-in next-review-date column so risks don't go stale between quarterly reviews.
FRIA flag. A column to flag where a Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment applies.
How to use it
Start from your AI inventory, not a blank sheet — every AI system should have at least one corresponding risk entry. Score consistently across the register so priorities are comparable, review at least quarterly, and feed the highest-scored risks into your enterprise risk management reporting to the board.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI risk register?
A living record of identified AI risks with owners, scores, controls and review dates.
How do you build an AI risk register?
List your AI uses, identify risks per system, score impact times likelihood, assign owners and controls, then review regularly.
How do you score AI risk?
Typically impact times likelihood, often weighted for affected individuals and reversibility.
How often should AI risk be reviewed?
Continuously monitored, formally reviewed quarterly and on any material change.
What controls reduce AI risk?
Human oversight, testing and evaluations, data governance, access controls, monitoring and incident response.
What is a Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA)?
An EU AI Act assessment of a high-risk system's impact on people's rights, required of certain deployers.
How does AI risk management link to the EU AI Act?
High-risk systems require a documented risk-management system maintained throughout the system's lifecycle.
Related pages
Sources
Last updated 19 June 2026.