AI System Retirement: The Overlooked Stage Where Risks Linger

Internal audit and assurance professionals often focus on the active lifecycle of AI systems, but this article highlights the critical and often neglected "retirement" phase. It argues that decommissioning an AI system is not a clean event and can introduce a new set of risks, dubbed "AI debris," if not managed with the same rigor as deployment. Understanding these lingering risks is crucial for maintaining a robust control environment and ensuring compliance throughout the entire AI system lifecycle.