Meaning ● Federated AI Governance, within the SMB sphere, signifies a decentralized yet coordinated framework for managing artificial intelligence systems across various business functions. This approach ensures that AI initiatives, particularly those driving automation and growth, adhere to ethical standards, regulatory requirements, and strategic business goals, without centralizing all AI decision-making. ● Consider a small manufacturing business, for instance, where AI is used for predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and customer service automation; federated governance allows each department to tailor AI applications to their specific needs, while still operating under a common set of principles and guidelines defined at the organizational level. ● This collaborative method promotes agility and innovation, as departments can adapt AI solutions to their unique challenges and opportunities, avoiding the bottlenecks associated with centralized control. Furthermore, it bolsters data security and privacy, as data processing and storage can remain localized within each department, reducing the risk of broad-scale data breaches and enhancing compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR. Federated AI governance empowers SMBs to leverage the power of AI responsibly and effectively, by enabling them to maintain control over their AI initiatives while fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency.