Was sind die Aufgaben eines KI-Beauftragten im Unternehmen?

An AI Officer is the person in a company who coordinates, monitors, and takes responsibility for the use of artificial intelligence in a way that is trustworthy and compliant. The role encompasses introducing and maintaining an AI management system, ensuring compliance with legal requirements such as the EU AI Act, and steering internal AI governance structures. The following sections shed light on the most important questions surrounding this function in a corporate context.

What qualifications does an AI Officer need?

An AI Officer needs a solid understanding of the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, knowledge of relevant standards such as ISO 42001, and a sound grasp of the legal framework, in particular the EU AI Act. Detailed technical expertise is less critical than the ability to assess AI risks, build governance structures, and coordinate various stakeholders within the organisation.

Specifically, an AI Officer should be able to introduce and further develop an AI management system (AIMS). This includes understanding AI roles and responsibilities within the organisation, conducting risk analyses, and creating and maintaining an AI inventory. Familiarity with the requirements of ISO 42001 provides a solid professional foundation for this.

In addition, strong communication skills are essential: the AI Officer must take on board concerns from the workforce, keep senior management informed about the performance of the AI management system, and at the same time serve as the internal point of contact for AI compliance questions. A background in risk or quality management is frequently a helpful asset.

How does an AI Officer differ from a Data Protection Officer?

The key difference lies in the area of responsibility: while the Data Protection Officer ensures compliance with data protection law, in particular the GDPR, the AI Officer is responsible for the overall governance and management of AI systems within the company. Both roles overlap where AI systems process personal data, but they are fundamentally independent functions.

The Data Protection Officer acts on the basis of a clearly defined statutory mandate and focuses on data processing activities, data subject rights, and reporting obligations to authorities. The AI Officer, by contrast, manages a broader range of tasks: assessing AI systems according to their risk class, coordinating the implementation of an AI quality management system, and ensuring that AI decisions remain transparent and trustworthy.

In practice, both roles work closely together — for example, when a high-risk AI system processes personal data and both data protection and AI regulatory requirements must be met. In smaller companies, one person may take on both functions, provided the respective tasks are clearly documented separately.

When should a company appoint an AI Officer?

A company should appoint an AI Officer at the latest when it develops, operates, or classifies AI systems as high-risk AI within the meaning of the EU AI Act. However, even below this statutory threshold, the role makes sense as soon as AI applications are used in relevant business processes and governance, risk, or compliance questions arise as a result.

Specific triggers for introducing the role can include:

Use of AI in decision-making processes that affect employees or customers
Use of AI tools that fall within the scope of the EU AI Act
Planned AIMS certification under ISO 42001
A growing number of AI systems within the company without clear lines of responsibility
Increasing regulatory requirements in the company’s own market segment

Companies that want to use AI strategically benefit from filling the role early, as an AI Officer also helps to develop a well-founded AI strategy, prioritise use cases, and build a company-wide AI culture.

What responsibilities does an AI Officer carry under the EU AI Act?

Under the EU AI Act, which has been in force since 2 February 2025, providers and operators of high-risk AI systems bear specific obligations, and the AI Officer is internally responsible for their implementation. These include, in particular, establishing an AI risk management system, ensuring technical documentation, and monitoring AI system performance after market launch.

The AI Officer ensures that the company is aware of its legal obligations and complies with them. Violations of the AI Regulation can result in significant fines, which is why the role serves a direct protective function for the company. The responsibilities include, among others:

Classification of AI systems in use according to risk classes
Establishing and maintaining an AI risk management system
Ensuring system documentation for regulatory purposes
Maintaining compliance mapping, in particular with regard to the risk class under the AI Regulation
Supporting incident management in the event of AI-related incidents

In addition, the AI Officer must ensure that internal governance structures are aligned with the requirements of the EU AI Act — for example, by defining responsibilities, reporting lines, and escalation paths.

What does an AI Officer’s day-to-day work actually look like?

The daily work of an AI Officer is varied, moving between strategic planning, operational monitoring, and internal communication. The AI Officer coordinates AI initiatives, maintains the AI inventory, assesses the risks of new AI applications, and ensures that all relevant stakeholders are informed and involved.

Typical day-to-day tasks include:

Maintaining and updating the AI inventory with all AI systems used in the company
Evaluating new AI use cases for feasibility, risks, and compliance requirements
Reviewing AI policy for currency and effectiveness
Coordinating with IT, Legal, Data Protection, and specialist departments on AI-related matters
Receiving and addressing concerns from the workforce regarding AI systems
Reporting to senior management on the status of the AI management system

At a strategic level, the AI Officer develops measurable AI objectives, derives measures from them, and monitors their implementation. In doing so, the AI Officer works closely with the governing body, which in turn is responsible for the governance structures surrounding AI oversight, AI decision-making, and data use. Working with a RACI matrix has proven effective for clearly defining responsibilities between the AI Officer, risk management, and asset owners.

How do you become an AI Officer — what training options are available?

The most effective way to enter the role of AI Officer is through structured training that covers both the technical fundamentals of artificial intelligence and the normative and legal dimensions. The internationally recognised certification as an ISO 42001 AI Officer (AIMS Officer) is the direct path into the role and imparts precisely the knowledge needed to build and operate an AI management system.

Relevant content covered in such training includes:

Fundamentals of AI and its opportunities and risks in a corporate context
The difference between AI governance and AI management
Minimum requirements of ISO 42001 for an AI management system
Measures from Annex A of ISO 42001, in particular regarding internal roles and resources
Legal framework conditions, in particular the EU AI Act and AI compliance
Related standards and frameworks

If you want to go deeper, you can subsequently complete training as a KI-Manager, which covers strategic topics such as AI strategy, use case prioritisation, and change management. For companies wishing to have their entire AI governance reviewed, there is also the option of an ISO 42001 Audit.

How mITSM supports you in qualifying as an AI Officer

We at mITSM offer a structured training portfolio covering AI governance, AI management, and ISO 42001, which prepares both newcomers and experienced professionals for the role of AI Officer. Our trainers are certified experts who not only know AI management in theory but actively apply it in practice.

An overview of what we offer:

ISO 42001 AI Officer (AIMS Officer): Certification course with examination via ICO-Cert, covering all core competencies for the role
AI Manager Training: Advanced training in AI strategy, AI compliance, and operational AI management
Flexible formats: In-person training, online live training, and in-house delivery at your premises
Personal certifications via ICO-Cert: Internationally recognised personal certifications that tangibly increase your market value in the job market

Whether you are an individual on your way into a new role or a company looking to build AI competencies: we support you on this journey with practical content and recognised qualifications. Get in touch with us directly and find out which format best suits your requirements.

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