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Governance & Assurance in AI Networks (GAAIN) Initiative

Hosted by the Rock Center for Corporate Governance, a joint initiative of Stanford Law School and Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Law AI Initiative.

Illustration of digitized scales of justice; AI concept.

Mission

The GAAIN Initiative promotes research and education on the responsible governance and use of artificial intelligence (AI) within organizations, emphasizing risk management, compliance, and financial information integrity. The Initiative provides a forum for scholars, regulators, and industry partners to define best practices, anticipate emerging trends and risks, and ensure that AI innovations preserve and strengthen public trust and accountability.

Research Focus

The initiative’s research agenda explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, governance, financial information systems, and assurance. Our overarching goal is to develop evidence-based best practices for AI governance across the audit, compliance, and risk management ecosystem.

Short-term priorities include the following:

  • Examine and address the perceived disconnect between PCAOB standards and the use of emerging AI tools in audit.
  • Develop teaching cases relating to AI governance at issuers.
  • Survey audit firms about their concerns surrounding AI adoption, relating to both internal audit applications and external AI use under existing auditing standards.
  • Build a network of stakeholders in the AI and accounting governance ecosystem by identifying key contacts, organizations, and events that can advance relevant discussions.

In the longer term, the Initiative will host events and produce research to bring together academics, regulators, and practitioners to explore the evolving role of AI in assurance, risk management, and compliance.

Affiliated Faculty

  • Professor of Law
  • Bernard Bergreen Faculty Scholar
  • Associate Dean of Curriculum
  • Faculty Co-Director, Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance
  • Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic and Policy Research (SIEPR)

  • The MBA Class of 1963 Professor of Management, Graduate School of Business
  • Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

  • Assistant Professor of Accounting, Graduate School of Business

  • The Marriner S. Eccles Professor of Accounting and Public and Private Management, Graduate School of Business

  • W. A. Franke Professor of Law and Business
  • Professor of Finance (by courtesy), Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research
  • Faculty Co-Director, Rock Center for Corporate Governance

  • James B. McClatchy Professor of Law
  • Co-Chair Stanford Law AI Initiative
  • Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
  • Professor, by courtesy, Political Science
  • Professor, by courtesy, Communications

  • W. A. Franke Professor of Law and Business, Emeritus
  • Senior Faculty, Rock Center for Corporate Governance

Should you have any questions about this Initiative, please do not hesitate to contact Colleen Honigsberg at colleenh@law.stanford.edu.