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Model card

By Updated

Structured, versioned documentation of a model (provenance, intended use, capabilities, evaluations and known failure modes) maintained as code.

Developed in
ch. 14, Model cards, system cards and datasheets
ch. 05, Pattern: Model Card as Control Evidence
Chapters
ch. 04, The Stack · ch. 05, Patterns · ch. 14, Development
Contrast with
System card · Data card
Source
Defined by this Body of Knowledge: the section it is developed in is the source

Commonly confused

  • Model card versus System card

    Model card
    Structured, versioned documentation of a model (provenance, intended use, capabilities, evaluations and known failure modes) maintained as code.
    System card
    Documentation of a deployed AI system as a whole (models, prompts, retrieval, tools, guardrails and oversight), where a model card documents one model.

    The differenceOne model's documentation, against the deployed system's: models, prompts, retrieval, tools, guardrails and oversight.

    Why it mattersDeployers and authorities need the system view; a model card alone misses the controls around the model.

Where it is used

17 chapters of the Body of Knowledge use the term. Each link opens the first section that does.

Model card: mentions per chapter69 mentions of the term across 17 of the 23 chapters of the Body of Knowledge; the chapters the glossary cross-references are drawn solid.Cross-referenced chapterOther chapter01 Definition: 2 mentions01 Definition204 The Stack: 5 mentions04 The Stack505 Patterns: 2 mentions05 Patterns208 Regulatory Map: 7 mentions08 Regulatory Map710 Reading List: 3 mentions10 Reading List311 AI Defined: 5 mentions11 AI Defined512 Governance Program: 3 mentions12 Governance Program313 Risk Management: 4 mentions13 Risk Management414 Development: 7 mentions14 Development715 Deployment: 4 mentions15 Deployment416 Fairness & XAI: 6 mentions16 Fairness & XAI617 Incidents: 1 mention17 Incidents118 EU AI Act: 3 mentions18 EU AI Act319 Privacy & AI: 3 mentions19 Privacy & AI320 Existing Law: 6 mentions20 Existing Law621 AI Laws Worldwide: 4 mentions21 AI Laws Worldwide422 Principles & Standards: 4 mentions22 Principles & Standards4No mentions in the other 6 chaptersSource: the Body of Knowledgev0.5.0
Model card: mentions per chapter69 mentions of the term across 17 of the 23 chapters of the Body of Knowledge; the chapters the glossary cross-references are drawn solid.Cross-referenced chapterOther chapter0001 Definition: 2 mentions201020304 The Stack: 5 mentions50405 Patterns: 2 mentions205060708 Regulatory Map: 7 mentions70810 Reading List: 3 mentions31011 AI Defined: 5 mentions51112 Governance Program: 3 mentions31213 Risk Management: 4 mentions41314 Development: 7 mentions71415 Deployment: 4 mentions41516 Fairness & XAI: 6 mentions61617 Incidents: 1 mention11718 EU AI Act: 3 mentions31819 Privacy & AI: 3 mentions31920 Existing Law: 6 mentions62021 AI Laws Worldwide: 4 mentions42122 Principles & Standards: 4 mentions42223Source: the Body of Knowledge v0.5.0
Mentions per chapter How often each chapter names the term, with the chapters the glossary cross-references drawn solid. The longest bar is where to read the term in use; bars spread across many chapters mark a term that runs through the discipline.
Mentions as a table
Mentions of Model card per chapter
ChapterMentionsCross-referenced
00 Preface0No
01 Definition2No
02 Why Now0No
03 Values & Principles0No
04 The Stack5Yes
05 Patterns2Yes
06 The Role0No
07 Maturity Model0No
08 Regulatory Map7No
10 Reading List3No
11 AI Defined5No
12 Governance Program3No
13 Risk Management4No
14 Development7Yes
15 Deployment4No
16 Fairness & XAI6No
17 Incidents1No
18 EU AI Act3No
19 Privacy & AI3No
20 Existing Law6No
21 AI Laws Worldwide4No
22 Principles & Standards4No
23 AI Agents0No

Patterns that use this term

14 pattern pages use the term; the 10 that use it most:

Model card: related terms and patternsThe term at the centre; related terms on solid edges, the terms it is contrasted with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer.RelatedContrastColour: stack layer of the pattern01 Govern-as-Code02 Inventory03 Evals05 AssuranceModel cardRelated terms (2)Datasheet for datasets · RelatedDatasheet for datasetsFailure to warn · RelatedFailure to warnContrast with (2)Data card · ContrastData cardSystem card · ContrastSystem cardPatterns using it most (6)Claims Substantiation Gate, 4 mentions · Uses the termClaims Substantiation GateDataset Admission Gate, 2 mentions · Uses the termDataset Admission GateEval Gate in CI, 1 mention · Uses the termEval Gate in CIFairness Eval Suite, 2 mentions · Uses the termFairness Eval SuiteModel Card as Control Evidence, 5 mentions · Uses the termModel Card as Control EvidenceVendor / Model Due-Diligence Gate, 3 mentions · Uses the termVendor / Model Due-Diligence
Model card: related terms and patternsThe term at the centre; related terms on solid edges, the terms it is contrasted with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer.RelatedContrastColour: stack layer of the pattern01 Govern-as-Code02 Inventory03 Evals05 AssuranceRelated terms (2)Datasheet for datasets · RelatedDatasheet for datasetsFailure to warn · RelatedFailure to warnPatterns using it most (6)Claims Substantiation Gate, 4 mentions · Uses the termClaims Substantiation GateDataset Admission Gate, 2 mentions · Uses the termDataset Admission GateEval Gate in CI, 1 mention · Uses the termEval Gate in CIFairness Eval Suite, 2 mentions · Uses the termFairness Eval SuiteModel Card as Control Evidence, 5 mentions · Uses the termModel Card as Control EvidenceVendor / Model Due-Diligence Gate, 3 mentions · Uses the termVendor / Model Due-DiligenceContrast with (2)Data card · ContrastData cardSystem card · ContrastSystem cardModel card
The term's neighbourhood Terms related to this one on solid edges, terms it is often confused with on dashed edges, and the patterns that use it most in the colour of their layer. Follow a dashed edge to check the distinction before you use either term.
Neighbourhood as a table
Neighbourhood of Model card
FamilyItemRelation
Related termsDatasheet for datasetsRelated
Related termsFailure to warnRelated
Contrast withData cardContrast
Contrast withSystem cardContrast
Patterns using it mostClaims Substantiation Gate, 4 mentionsUses the term
Patterns using it mostDataset Admission Gate, 2 mentionsUses the term
Patterns using it mostEval Gate in CI, 1 mentionUses the term
Patterns using it mostFairness Eval Suite, 2 mentionsUses the term
Patterns using it mostModel Card as Control Evidence, 5 mentionsUses the term
Patterns using it mostVendor / Model Due-Diligence Gate, 3 mentionsUses the term
  • Datasheet for datasets

    Documentation that accompanies a dataset with its motivation, composition, collection process, preprocessing, uses, distribution and maintenance, as proposed…

  • Failure to warn

    In product liability, a defect in instructions or warnings about non-obvious dangers.

Sources

No external source: the term is coined or used in a specific sense by this Body of Knowledge, and the section linked under "Developed in" is its source.

Definitions of legal terms paraphrase the cited text, which governs. Dated statements are as of .

Cite this term

García Aibar, J. (2026). Model card. In AI Governance Engineering: The Thesis & Body of Knowledge (v0.5.0), Glossary. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22956197. https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/model-card. CC BY 4.0

BibTeX

@misc{aige2026modelcard,
  author  = {Jorge García Aibar},
  title   = {{Model card}},
  note    = {Glossary, AI Governance Engineering: The Thesis \& Body of Knowledge, version 0.5.0},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.5281/zenodo.22956197},
  url     = {https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/model-card}
}