How do you actually govern AI so you can use it at scale without blowing up your risk register?

In this episode of the Business of AI podcast, Tim chats with Ray Eisel Porter (former Global Lead for Responsible AI at Accenture) and Dr Paul Donga (Head of Responsible AI & AI Strategy at NatWest) about their new book, Governing the Machine – a practical blueprint for AI governance in real organisations, not in theory slides.

They unpack:

What agentic AI really was in the 1990s – and why today’s “agents” are nowhere near the autonomous rational planners people are hyping.

How to build AI governance as an enabler, not a tick-box brake on innovation.

Why generative AI widens and deepens the risk landscape, especially in financial services.

The emerging role of the Chief AI Officer and where responsible AI, ethics boards and risk teams fit in.

How to make governance relevant to actual workers, not just a PDF policy nobody reads.

Why the UK has a genuine opportunity to lead globally on responsible AI, given its regulators, legal culture, and new AI Safety Institute.

In this conversation, we cover:

Ray’s journey from leading global responsible AI at Accenture to co-authoring Governing the Machine

Paul’s background in agentic AI research in the 1990s and his move into banking and AI ethics

The mindset shift: governance as a way to sleep at night and unlock AI value

Practical steps to get started:

Identifying checkpoints where “does this include AI?” gets asked

Using risk triage to decide when heavier governance is needed

Embedding questions through the AI lifecycle, not as a final checklist

Why FOMO about agentic AI is misplaced – and what today’s “agents” really do (mostly advanced search and orchestration, not deep planning)

How to keep governance flexible as technology and regulation move, including using standards beneath policies

The human side: training, culture, new roles (AI ethicists, data curators, responsible AI leads), and using AI to augment work rather than replace it

The UK’s regulatory positioning vs the EU AI Act and the US – and why a pro-innovation, guidance-driven approach might actually work

If you’re a business leader, risk professional, data/AI lead, or policymaker wondering where to start with AI governance – or whether you really need a Chief AI Officer – this episode will give you a concrete framework and a reality check on the current hype.

📖 The book: Governing the Machine – available now from major booksellers.
🎙️ Podcast: Business of AI Podcast – subscribe for new episodes.

👉 Watch / Listen and let us know in the comments:

Do you think your organisation is ready for agentic AI?

Should the UK aim to lead the world on responsible AI – and is it doing enough?

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