Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you, your organization, and Artificial Intelligence Control Standard (AICS) LLC regarding the use of AICS Governance Assessment, recognition, Public Verification, and client portal services.

2. Services Overview

AICS provides independent AI governance assessment, recognition, and external-certification readiness support services, which may include:

• Initial Governance Assessments and Assessment Determinations
• Follow-Up Assessments, reassessments, and Recognition Renewal
• Annual Recognition Reviews
• Publication of Recognition Records for organizations granted AICS Recognized Status
• Recognition Verification services
• External-certification readiness support
• Client portal access for evidence submission and workflow visibility

3. Eligibility & Account Registration

To use AICS services, you must be authorized to act on behalf of the organization requesting Governance Assessment, recognition, or external-certification readiness support services.

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must have authority to submit information on behalf of your organization.
• You agree to provide accurate and current information during intake, onboarding, and portal use.

4. Assessment and Recognition Process

The AICS Assessment and Recognition Process may include application intake, scope review, evidence submission, document review, a Governance Assessment, executive reporting, an Assessment Determination, publication of a Recognition Record, and ongoing review activities.

• Submit a Governance Assessment request.
• Provide requested documentation and evidence.
• Participate in review or clarification activities where required.
• Receive assessment findings, scoring, reporting, an Assessment Determination, or AICS Recognized Status as applicable.

A Follow-Up Assessment may be required to evaluate remediation, material changes, or continued satisfaction of applicable AICS recognition requirements. Recognition Renewal near the end of a recognition period may require a new Governance Assessment or reassessment against then-current AICS requirements and is not automatic.

5. Fees & Payment

Fees are based on the applicable service package, assessed scope, organization size, assessment or recognition requirements, and any additional Follow-Up Assessment or Annual Recognition Review work requested.

• Startup Package: $5,000
• Enterprise Package: $15,000
• Re-Assessment: $2,500–$7,500
• Annual Recognition Review: $2,000/year

Payment terms may be defined in a proposal, invoice, statement of work, or other written agreement between AICS and the client organization.

6. Recognition Validity

AICS Recognized Status may remain valid for three years from the Recognition Date associated with publication of the organization's Recognition Record, subject to continued satisfaction of AICS recognition requirements. Recognition applies only to the organization and assessed scope identified in the Recognition Record.

• Recognized Status and Recognition Materials are non-transferable.
• Continued Recognized Status may require completion of applicable Annual Recognition Reviews, which support continued recognition during the three-year recognition period.
• Material changes may require a Follow-Up Assessment or reassessment.
• Recognized Status may expire, be suspended, revoked, or renewed under these Terms.

Material changes may include significant changes to assessed AI systems, assessed scope, governance structure, risk profile, control environment, operational structure, or information or evidence underlying the Assessment Determination.

7. Use of Recognition Materials

An organization granted AICS Recognized Status may use applicable Recognition Materials while its Recognized Status is active. Recognition Materials may include the Recognition Document, Recognition Record, and approved references to AICS Recognized Status.

• Recognition Materials apply only to the recognized organization and assessed scope identified in the Recognition Record.
• Recognition Materials must not imply broader AICS endorsement of products, services, systems, or business activities.
• Recognition Materials must not imply accredited certification, ISO/IEC certification, regulatory approval, or a legal determination of compliance.
• Recognition Materials must not be altered in a misleading way or transferred to another organization.
• Recognition Materials must cease to be used when recognition expires or is revoked and may be required to cease during suspension.

8. Suspension and Revocation of Recognized Status

AICS may suspend or revoke AICS Recognized Status for material failure to continue satisfying AICS recognition requirements; materially false, misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate evidence; misuse or unauthorized alteration of Recognition Materials; misrepresentation of AICS Recognized Status; nonpayment of required fees; material changes affecting the basis for the Assessment Determination; failure to complete a required Annual Recognition Review or Follow-Up Assessment; or failure to stop improper use of Recognition Materials.

Where appropriate, AICS will provide written notice describing the issue and a reasonable opportunity to correct or remediate it. AICS will determine whether Recognized Status remains Active, is Suspended, or is Revoked. The organization may request review of that determination. AICS may reinstate Recognized Status after satisfactory corrective action and, where required, completion of a Follow-Up Assessment.

AICS may immediately suspend Recognized Status pending review in serious circumstances, including fraud; intentionally false or materially misleading evidence; serious misuse of Recognition Materials; intentional misrepresentation of AICS status; or conduct creating a material risk of misleading customers, interested parties, regulators, or the public.

AICS may update the public Recognition Record to accurately reflect the organization's status, including Active, Suspended, Expired, or Revoked.

9. Confidentiality

Assessment reports, submitted evidence, uploaded customer materials, confidential organizational information, internal documentation, and other non-public assessment materials are treated as confidential engagement-related information unless otherwise authorized or required for Public Verification.

10. Liability Limitations

AICS services are provided for Governance Assessment, governance review, recognition, external-certification readiness support, and Public Verification purposes. AICS recognition is not accredited certification, ISO/IEC certification, regulatory approval, a legal determination of compliance, a guarantee of external certification, or a substitute for a determination by an accredited external certification body. AICS does not guarantee satisfaction of every legal or regulatory obligation, regulatory approval, business outcomes, risk elimination, legal compliance, security outcomes, or external certification.

Services are provided “as is” to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, without warranties not expressly stated in a written agreement.

11. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Minnesota, United States, unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.

12. Contact Information

Questions about these Terms of Service may be directed to the AICS administration team.