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AI Governance Glossary
Governance Practice

What Is Model Registry?

Model Registry is a centralised system for tracking, versioning, and managing machine learning models throughout their lifecycle, from development through deployment to retirement.

Definition

Model Registrya centralised system for tracking, versioning, and managing machine learning models throughout their lifecycle, from development through deployment to retirement.

A model registry is the operational answer to the question "what AI systems does our organisation actually have running?" Without one, organisations cannot produce an AI inventory — a foundational requirement of most AI governance frameworks (EU AI Act, ISO 42001, APRA expectations, AU AI6). A mature model registry records: model metadata, training data lineage, performance metrics, risk classification, approval history, deployment locations, and current status. It integrates with MLOps pipelines and feeds the compliance reporting layer.

Source: ISO/IEC 42001:2023, Clause 6; NIST AI RMF, GOVERN 2.2

Plain-language explanation

A model registry is the operational answer to the question "what AI systems does our organisation actually have running?" Without one, organisations cannot produce an AI inventory — a foundational requirement of most AI governance frameworks (EU AI Act, ISO 42001, APRA expectations, AU AI6). A mature model registry records: model metadata, training data lineage, performance metrics, risk classification, approval history, deployment locations, and current status. It integrates with MLOps pipelines and feeds the compliance reporting layer.

Primary source: ISO/IEC 42001:2023, Clause 6; NIST AI RMF, GOVERN 2.2

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