The short version: 2026 could be the year AI bills of materials (BOMs) become standard. These document all components of an AI system and are central to transparency and risk management in artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence requires transparency and control. Bills of materials (BOMs) for AI systems could become standard in 2026, representing an important tool in AI risk management. The discussion around AI BOMs is gaining momentum.
The question of whether 2026 will be a turning point for AI bills of materials is increasingly occupying security experts and developers. An AI bill of materials documents all components, dependencies and data sources used in an AI system – similar to a traditional bill of materials in manufacturing.
For risk management in the AI field, such BOMs are critical. They enable organizations to trace the origin of training data, identify external models, and recognize potential vulnerabilities early. This becomes particularly important given growing compliance requirements and the need to make AI systems traceable and secure.
Experts from the cybersecurity industry see standardized AI BOMs as a key to demystifying black-box AI models and establishing trust in AI systems. The coming years will show whether this best practice actually gains widespread adoption.