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description: Impact assessment and evidence guidance for Phase 5 of the RAI Planner
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# RAI Impact Assessment

Use this note when entering Phase 5 or revisiting the control-surface and evidence workflow.

## Control Surface Taxonomy

Evaluate controls across the common RAI trustworthiness dimensions:

* Prevent controls that reduce the chance of harm
* Detect controls that identify issues during operation
* Respond controls that mitigate harm after detection

Record evidence for each identified threat and evaluate whether coverage is full, partial, or a gap.

## Evidence Register

The evidence register should capture:

* evidence identifier and threat reference
* characteristic and control type
* control description and coverage status
* evidence source and verification status
* notes on assumptions, dependencies, or open questions

## Tradeoff Documentation

When a mitigation affects competing RAI characteristics, document the tradeoff explicitly:

* which characteristics conflict
* why both cannot be fully satisfied at once
* what decision is proposed
* what compensating controls or residual risk remain

## Work Item Seeds

Use the evidence register and maturity observations to seed follow-up work items. Focus on gaps, partial controls, and characteristics that still need stronger evidence or governance support.
