Deloitte has announced an expansion of its AI Controls and Assurance services and solutions, aiming to assist organizations in the confident adoption, scaling, and governance of artificial intelligence across their operations. These enhanced services are designed to offer comprehensive support throughout the AI lifecycle, from initial exploration to enterprise-wide deployment, by integrating advisory and assurance services within governance frameworks and AI-driven transformations. The objective is to help organizations manage risks while simultaneously realizing the value of AI.
The initiative comes as Deloitte's "State of AI in the Enterprise" report indicates that while 74% of companies plan to deploy agentic AI within two years, only 21% currently possess a mature governance model for autonomous agents. This disparity highlights a growing risk for organizations as they expand their AI systems. Frank Milano, U.S. Assurance leader at Deloitte, noted that organizations are deploying AI systems for critical decisions, yet the gap between ambition and assurance is widening. Deloitte aims to bridge this gap by assessing AI functionalities and developing governance structures that foster innovation rather than hinder it.
Deloitte's expanded capabilities are structured to address organizations at any stage of their AI journey, from exploratory governance to large-scale enterprise deployment. Key areas of focus include AI governance, controls, and risk management, where Deloitte assists in establishing governance frameworks that balance innovation with control. These frameworks are intended to address operational excellence, regulatory requirements, and potential standards-based readiness assessments, encompassing AI risk assessments, model validations, and the redesign of controls and processes, particularly where AI impacts financial reporting and operational integrity.
Another core area is AI-powered enablement and transformation, where Deloitte supports organizations in strengthening their own assurance capabilities through AI-enabled internal audit, risk management, and controls functions, alongside modernized accounting and reporting processes. This also includes AI strategy development, access to specialized delivery teams, and collaborative workshops for exploring practical AI use cases and prototypes.
Deloitte is also emphasizing ecosystem collaboration and AI integration, working with leading technology providers and hyperscalers to embed governance, controls, and compliance considerations directly into AI solutions from their inception. This approach aims to provide organizations with AI adoption that includes built-in safeguards and scalability.
Furthermore, the services address regulatory readiness to build trust. Deloitte is actively involved with AI regulatory requirements, risk management frameworks, third-party assurance reporting such as SOC reports and certifications, controls, and testing strategies. The firm continues to collaborate with standard setters and regulatory bodies to help organizations demonstrate the reliability of their AI solutions.
Sarah Fedele, Assurance Strategy and Transformation Leader at Deloitte, stated that organizations that will lead in the AI era are those that govern best, not just those that deploy fastest. She described controls and assurance as the essential infrastructure for trustworthy AI at scale, emphasizing Deloitte's role in helping clients build this infrastructure from the outset.
Deloitte's AI Controls and Assurance capabilities are developed in alignment with its Trustworthy AI framework, which embeds governance, compliance, and transparency throughout the AI lifecycle. By combining extensive industry and regulatory experience with advanced technology, Deloitte seeks to transform AI-driven complexity into trusted, scalable, and sustainable outcomes, grounded in quality, integrity, and transparency.
