AAT-17: Release Owner Gate (ROG) For AI-Augmented Content
Mechanisms exist to implement a Release Owner Gate (ROG), or similar function, that prohibits the external release of AI-augmented content without formal Subject Matter Expert (SME) review and Line of Business (LOB) approval that validates: (1) Material facts; (2) Citations; and (3) Other relevant content that could discredit the organization.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, AAT-17 was AI & Autonomous Technologies Harm Prevention. That control is now AAT-19.
Control Question: Does the organization implement a Release Owner Gate (ROG), or similar function, that prohibits the external release of AI-augmented content without formal Subject Matter Expert (SME) review and Line of Business (LOB) approval that validates: (1) Material facts; (2) Citations; and (3) Other relevant content that could discredit the organization?
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with AAT domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ AAT-related processes are expected to follow the organization's existing processes (e.g., incident response, asset management, change control and risk assessments). ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists to provide AAT oversight, where the Chief Information Officer (CIO), or similar function, governs technology decisions what is acceptable for AAT within the organization.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with AAT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with AAT domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with AAT domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Asset management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with AAT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with AAT domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An Artificial Intelligence Governance (AIG) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain AAT domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of AI governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., dedicated AI governance platform). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with AAT domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to govern a Release Owner Gate (ROG), or similar function, that prohibits the external release of AI-augmented content without formal Subject Matter Expert (SME) review and Line of Business (LOB) approval that validates: (1) Material facts; (2) Citations; and (3) Other relevant content that could discredit the organization.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- AAT-17_A01 a Release Owner Gate (ROG), or similar function, prohibits the external release of AI-augmented content without formal Subject Matter Expert (SME) review and Line of Business (LOB) approval.
- AAT-17_A02 the review and approval process validates material facts.
- AAT-17_A03 the review and approval process validates citations.
- AAT-17_A04 the review and approval process validates other relevant content that could discredit the organization.
Evidence Requirements
- E-AAT-13 AI Human Oversight Records
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Documented evidence of human oversight measures for deployed Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technologies (AAT), including oversight roles and escalation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Autonomous Technologies Governance
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Manual review and approval process before publishing AI-generated content
- Designated content reviewer for AI-assisted materials
Small
- Documented AI content review workflow
- SME review checklist for AI-augmented content
- Management sign-off before external release
Medium
- Formal content release workflow with ROG checkpoint
- SME review requirements for AI-augmented content
- CMS approval workflow for externally published content
Large
- Enterprise ROG program with defined approval authorities
- Automated flagging of AI-augmented content for review
- Cross-functional review panel for sensitive AI content
Enterprise
- Enterprise AI content governance program
- Automated AI content detection and flagging
- Multi-stage ROG approval workflows in enterprise CMS
- Board-level visibility into high-risk AI content releases