VerifyWise - Open Source AI Governance Platform

Summary

VerifyWise is an open-source AI governance platform that transforms complex compliance requirements into manageable workflows. Rather than juggling spreadsheets and documents across multiple regulations, organizations can use this unified platform to track EU AI Act obligations, conduct NIST AI RMF assessments, and maintain ISO 42001 documentation. Built by practitioners who understand the pain of manual compliance tracking, VerifyWise offers a GitHub-hosted solution that's transparent, customizable, and free from vendor lock-in.

What Makes This Different

• Regulation-agnostic architecture: Instead of building separate tools for each framework, VerifyWise uses a unified data model that maps requirements across EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, and ISO 42001. This means you can track overlapping obligations once rather than three times.
• Collaborative compliance: Built on open-source principles, the platform allows multiple stakeholders—legal, technical, and business teams—to contribute to governance documentation simultaneously. Changes are tracked, and approval workflows ensure accountability.
• Evidence-based assessments: Rather than checkbox compliance, VerifyWise emphasizes documentation of actual evidence. Risk assessments link to specific datasets, model cards reference actual performance metrics, and compliance reports cite concrete implementation details.
• Template library: The platform includes pre-built templates for common AI governance documents like algorithmic impact assessments, data governance policies, and incident response plans. These aren't generic templates—they're specifically designed to meet regulatory requirements.

Getting Your Hands Dirty

• Installation takes minutes: Clone the repository, run the Docker setup, and you have a local instance running. The platform includes sample data and workflows so you can explore features immediately.
• Start with risk assessment: The quickest way to see value is running VerifyWise's risk assessment wizard on an existing AI system. The tool walks you through NIST AI RMF categories while simultaneously checking EU AI Act risk classifications and ISO 42001 requirements.
• Build your compliance dashboard: Set up monitoring for your AI systems by connecting VerifyWise to your MLOps pipeline. The platform can track model performance metrics, data lineage, and deployment status—turning compliance from a periodic audit into continuous monitoring.
• Customize for your context: Since it's open source, you can modify workflows to match your organization's specific needs. Add custom risk categories, integrate with existing tools, or build reports that match your industry's requirements.

Who This Resource Is For

• Mid-size AI companies preparing for EU AI Act compliance who need more than spreadsheets but can't afford enterprise governance platforms. You have 10-100 AI systems to track and need structured workflows without massive overhead.
• Regulated industries (healthcare, finance, government) deploying AI where compliance documentation is mandatory. You need audit trails, approval workflows, and the ability to demonstrate due diligence to regulators.
• AI teams in large enterprises who want to pilot governance approaches before committing to expensive commercial solutions. You can prove value with VerifyWise before scaling to enterprise tools.
• Consultants and legal firms advising clients on AI governance who need practical tools to implement recommendations. Having hands-on experience with governance platforms makes your advice more actionable.

The Reality Check

• This isn't plug-and-play: While installation is straightforward, meaningful implementation requires someone who understands both your AI systems and regulatory requirements. Expect 2-4 weeks to configure workflows properly.
• Open source means self-support: No vendor helpdesk means you'll rely on GitHub issues and community forums. The upside is complete transparency into how the platform works and evolves.
• Still evolving: Released in 2024, some advanced features are roadmap items rather than current capabilities. Check the GitHub issues before committing to specific functionality.
• Compliance guidance, not legal advice: VerifyWise helps organize compliance activities but doesn't replace legal expertise. You still need qualified professionals to interpret regulatory requirements for your specific situation.