TÜV SÜD launches AI Essentials Programme for Responsible AI Use Assurance

4 November 2026

Fareham, UK – TÜV SÜD today launches AI Essentials, a new assurance programme to help organisations establish responsible, secure and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence.

AI adoption is accelerating across organisations, often faster than traditional governance arrangements can adapt. Many organisations are therefore unlikely to have a complete picture of where AI is being used, what information it can access or the risks it creates. 

AI Essentials establishes a governance foundation that helps organisations understand their AI use and put essential controls in place, building confidence in AI so that the opportunities it offers can be realised. Organisations that successfully complete AI Essentials receive independent TÜV SÜD verification that programme requirements have been met. 

AI Essentials Plus provides a further level of independent assurance. Building on the foundations established through AI Essentials, TÜV SÜD assesses the organisation's implementation of its AI governance arrangements and seeks objective evidence that relevant controls are operating in practice. 

Iain Bowes, Head of Management System Assurance at TÜV SÜD Business Assurance, said: 
“AI is rapidly moving beyond the chatbot, creating a challenge for organisations as AI innovation is outpacing internal oversight. Employees are adopting AI because it is useful, accessible and increasingly embedded in the tools they use every day. The answer isn't to stop people using AI but to have proportionate governance around its use. 
“AI Essentials gives organisations a practical approach that allows them to innovate with greater confidence. It helps them understand where AI is being used, establish accountability, assess the risks and introduce fundamental responsible AI use controls. AI Essentials Plus goes further by independently assessing whether that has been effectively implemented.” 

AI Essentials is designed to complement an organisation's existing information security, privacy, risk and governance arrangements, rather than replace them. It provides a clear and proportionate way of demonstrating to customers, employees, boards and supply-chain partners that AI is being treated as a governance issue rather than simply being adopted as another technology. It also provides a structured starting point for developing AI governance further, such as adopting ISO/IEC 42001, the international standard for AI management systems. 

Learn more about AI Essentials