February 6, 2025, AUSTIN, TX — The need for operationalizing responsible AI is evolving rapidly as organizations grapple with escalating AI incidents and high failure rates due to a lack of skills, governance structures, and reliable tools. With generative AI adoption accelerating and agentic AI expected to see rapid uptake this year, companies face increasing pressure to establish robust AI governance.

To bridge this gap, organizations are now prioritizing education, practical tools, and verifiable assessments to accelerate compliance with global AI standards such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) and ISO 42001. In response to this demand, the Responsible AI Institute (RAI Institute) today announced the launch of RAISE Pathways, a next-generation AI governance program designed to help organizations scale responsible AI practices efficiently and effectively.

RAISE Pathways: A Comprehensive Approach to AI Maturity

RAISE Pathways is a flexible, AI-powered framework that meets organizations at any stage of their AI journey, integrating globally recognized AI governance standards with cutting-edge AI capabilities and expert guidance.

A core feature of RAISE Pathways is its free AI-powered assessment, providing companies with a clear view of their governance maturity through a tailored RAI Maturity Scorecard. This scorecard delivers an actionable roadmap to strengthen AI governance and align with regulatory expectations.

RAISE Pathways categorizes organizations into four AI maturity tiers—RAI Explorer, RAI Accelerator, RAI Innovator, and RAI Transformer—offering a structured path to responsible AI excellence through:

• Continuous AI Maturity Assessments & Benchmarking aligned with NIST RMF, ISO 42001, and the EU AI Act.
• Expert-Led Training & Certification, including self-paced learning modules, executive workshops, and governance deep dives.
• AI Governance Implementation Toolkits with policy templates, risk management playbooks, and compliance monitoring guides.
• Exclusive Peer Engagement & Industry Roundtables, fostering collaboration through leadership summits, policy forums, sponsored events, and sector-specific working groups.

The program’s resources, including the RAI Foundations Pack and premium research guides and playbooks, are available through the RAISE Pathways program membership or can be purchased separately for organizations needing immediate access to essential AI governance tools.

Demonstrating Responsible AI Leadership: New Benchmarks and Achievement Badging

To validate and showcase progress, RAISE Pathways offers renewable, milestone-based benchmarks, equipping organizations with industry-recognized credentials in responsible AI governance. These benchmarks and accompanying achievement badges provide tangible proof of compliance and leadership in an evolving regulatory and competitive landscape.

“AI maturity is no longer a future aspiration—it’s a necessity,” said Jeff Easley, GM at RAI Institute. “RAISE Pathways ensures our members can scale their governance and compliance efforts in lockstep with their AI capabilities.”

Join the Movement Toward AI Excellence

Transform your AI ambitions into actionable success with RAISE Pathways—where global best practices meet your organization’s unique needs. Take the first step toward AI excellence—schedule your RAISE Pathways consultation today.

About the Responsible AI Institute

Since 2016, Responsible AI Institute (RAI Institute) has been at the forefront of advancing responsible AI adoption across industries. As a non-profit organization, RAI Institute partners with policymakers, industry leaders, and technology providers to develop responsible AI benchmarks, governance frameworks, and best practices. With the launch of RAISE Pathways, RAI Institute equips organizations with expert-led training, real-time assessments, and implementation toolkits to strengthen AI governance, enhance transparency, and drive innovation at scale.

Members include leading companies such as Boston Consulting Group, Genpact, KPMG, Kennedys, Ally, ATB Financial and many others dedicated to bringing responsible AI to all industry sectors.

Media Contact

Nicole McCaffrey

Head of Strategy & Marketing, RAI Institute

nicole@responsible.ai 

+1 (440) 785-3588