Why ISO/IEC 42001 is the New SOC 2 for AI Startups (And How to Prepare)

If you are building products using Large Language Models (LLMs), RAG architectures, or autonomous agents, the "Wild West" era of AI development is officially coming to a close. With the enforcement of the EU AI Act looming (and similar regulations brewing in the US and UK), engineering teams are facing a massive paradigm shift. It’s no longer just about optimizing prompt engineering or reducing latency; it’s about algorithmic accountability. Enter ISO/IEC 42001 - the world’s first AI management system standard.