AI governance is institutional capacity.
Rules matter only to the extent institutions can apply, monitor, and enforce them.
National AI governance is an operating capability.
The World Bank's 2025 AI foundations work emphasizes practical risk-management capacity, cybersecurity readiness, incident reporting, accountability, and institutional capability. That framing is important: governments do not need only new legal text. They need systems and people capable of applying standards before and after deployment.
Assurance infrastructure supplies the connective layer between policy, regulated actors, technical systems, evidence, and continuing oversight.
World Bank, Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025: Strengthening AI Foundations, discussion of trustworthy AI, practical risk-management capacity, cybersecurity, incident response, and accountable deployment.