Trusted AI is Governed AI - RFI Requests
The Request for Information is really a Request for AI information
As organizations increasingly adopt AI-enabled solutions, traditional procurement practices- especially the Request for Information (RFI) process - MUST evolve.
RFIs are no longer just tools for feature comparison; they’ve become critical checkpoints for evaluating the integrity, transparency, and governance readiness of AI-enabled systems. In this new landscape, every question asked (or left unasked) becomes a reflection of your organization’s AI governance maturity.
Where you stand depends on where you sit.
Before issuing an AI-focused RFI, it’s essential to recognize the strategic tension between clients and suppliers:
The client approaches the RFI seeking clarity, transparency, and comprehensive details to make well-informed decisions that suit their specific needs.
The supplier navigates the same process aiming to showcase their strengths and differentiate their offerings, while also protecting proprietary information and positioning themselves favorably against competitors. From a governance perspective, this is no longer a best practice - it’s a shared responsibility that both sides must embrace.
Constructing Insightful AI RFI Questions
With AI advancing at an unprecedented pace, developing a comprehensive RFI with an AI focus should not be viewed as a one-time exercise for either clients or suppliers. Instead, organizations should treat the RFI process as an ongoing, iterative discipline- one that evolves in step with advancing AI capabilities, shifting risks, and growing regulatory demands.
Below are some starting categories and questions to help guide more thoughtful and forward-looking RFIs for AI-enabled solutions:
Data Stewardship - How is client data protected from misuse or unauthorized model training? What role does consent play in model retraining or fine-tuning?
Operational Accountability - What mechanisms are in place for versioning, rollback, and audit trails of AI models?
Cost Governance - What are the hidden or recurring costs tied to AI features (e.g., model inference, external APIs)?
Control & Oversight - Can clients define and enforce the autonomy level of AI agents? How granular are these settings?
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, these RFI questions are not just procurement tools - they are GOVERANCE instruments. They help establish trust, surface risk, and ensure that AI deployments align with your organization's values, policies, and risk thresholds.
An effective AI RFI should be led by your AI Governance Office in partnership with legal, procurement, IT, and risk leaders. This collaborative, evolving process reinforces the core message of this series: Trusted AI is Governed AI.
How can I help you “Keep Pace” with AI and Intelligent Agents?
With the rapid evolution of AI, a strong AI governance function is mandatory. I offer a range of consulting, governance and architecture services designed to help organizations successfully achieve their AI Goals.
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