Pass the Isaca Advanced in AI Audit AAIA Questions and answers with CertsForce

The AAIA™ Study Guide defines the core purpose of machine learning as the ability to enable systems to learn from data and make decisions or perform tasks that typically require human cognitive functions. ML allows AI systems to identify patterns, learn from historical data, and automate complex decision-making.

“Machine learning empowers systems to simulate aspects of human intelligence, including pattern recognition, language understanding, and decision-making. It forms the backbone of many AI applications designed to replace or augment human tasks.”

While visual analysis (A) and statistical inference (D) are functions of ML, they are subsets—not primary goals. Explainability (B) is important but is not a core ML function. Thus, C best represents the primary objective.

AI-related incidents often differ significantly from traditional IT incidents due to their dependence on data, model behavior, and algorithm performance. According to the AAIA™ Study Guide, incident management programs must include capabilities specifically tailored to AI, such as detecting and mitigating model drift and safeguarding against data poisoning or integrity attacks.

“AI incident response frameworks must account for issues unique to machine learning, including model drift, adversarial inputs, and data integrity breaches. An effective program incorporates detection, response, and recovery mechanisms for these AI-specific threats.”

While options A and B contribute to improving incident response over time, and option D suggests best-practice alignment, only option C directly addresses active response capabilities for high-risk, real-time AI vulnerabilities.

The best way to validate the accuracy of a predictive AI system is to use historical testing with past sales data (option D). According to the AAIA™ Study Guide, “historical (or back-testing) is essential for evaluating how well a model would have performed using actual data from previous periods, directly reflecting its predictive validity.” This method reveals any gaps or biases in the model by comparing predictions to known outcomes.

Unit testing, load testing, and sensitivity analysis are useful for technical verification and robustness but do not provide direct evidence of prediction accuracy in real-world scenarios.

The greatest challenge for IS auditors in evaluating the explainability of generative AI models is the changing nature of algorithms as AI continues to learn (option D). Generative AI models, especially those using advanced techniques like deep learning and reinforcement learning, often employ continuous or dynamic learning, which results in models that evolve over time. This adaptability can significantly hinder explainability because the logic, parameters, or decision pathways may shift with ongoing retraining or real-time learning.

The ISACA Advanced in AI Audit™ (AAIA™) Study Guide stresses that: “Continually learning AI systems present unique audit challenges, as their internal representations and reasoning can change after deployment, making it difficult to fully capture and explain the rationale for outputs at any given point.”

Other options, such as bias in input data or computational performance, are significant but do not pose as fundamental a challenge to explainability as a model whose internal workings can dynamically change.

If the combined size of the training, validation, and testing sets exceeds the original data size, it suggests that records may have been reused across sets. This can lead to data leakage, where the model has access to test or validation information during training, resulting in overly optimistic performance metrics.

“Data leakage invalidates model evaluation because it introduces unintended data overlap. Auditors must ensure that the training, validation, and test sets are strictly partitioned.”

Options A, C, and D refer to process order or quantity, but only B addresses the root issue of compromised model integrity due to overlapping data.

Imputing missing values using the mean, median, or mode is a common technique to fill blanks in datasets. However, according to the AAIA™ Study Guide, this method introduces a significant risk of information distortion, especially if the data is not normally distributed or if imputed values disproportionately impact underrepresented groups.

“Simple imputation can reduce data variability and reinforce existing biases. It may also misrepresent the true distribution of the data, leading to skewed model outputs.”

Other options (B, C, D) may involve transformations, but they do not inherently cause as much bias or data misrepresentation as A.

Neural networks are designed to mimic the way the human brain processes information, enabling AI systems to identify complex patterns and make decisions based on data inputs. The AAIA™ Study Guide defines neural networks as central to deep learning architectures that emulate cognitive functions.

“Neural networks simulate the interconnectivity and learning processes of the human brain. This capability enables AI systems to handle unstructured data and perform tasks such as image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive analytics.”

Options A, B, and D reflect ancillary benefits but not the core design purpose of neural networks. Thus, C is the most accurate.

Sudden and unexplained changes in AI-generated credit scores may result from data drift, model overfitting, or lack of recalibration. According to the AAIA™ Study Guide, regular expert review and calibration help maintain model reliability and transparency, particularly in high-stakes decisions like credit scoring.

“Ongoing human oversight ensures that predictive models remain stable and justifiable. In high-impact environments, such as banking, experts must review and recalibrate AI systems to prevent opaque or unexpected behavior.”

Option B may cause the exclusion of relevant long-term patterns. C promotes risk by removing oversight. D is a validation strategy, not a stability control. Therefore, A is the best option.

False positives in fraud detection AI systems often stem from poorly optimized hyperparameters. Hyperparameters control aspects of the model’s learning process such as the learning rate, decision thresholds, and complexity penalties. When these parameters are not tuned correctly, the model can become overly sensitive and flag normal behavior as suspicious, leading to customer complaints.

“Hyperparameter tuning is essential to balance sensitivity and specificity in AI models. Improper tuning can result in a high rate of false positives or negatives, particularly in systems like fraud detection that require nuanced pattern recognition.”

Options A and B relate to data governance but do not directly cause false positives in predictions. Option C (compute scale training) may affect model efficiency, not accuracy. Thus, D is the most appropriate answer.

The AAIA™ Study Guide defines the primary objective of AI governance as establishing structure and accountability for AI initiatives. This includes clearly assigning responsibilities across development, deployment, risk management, and auditing roles to ensure that AI is used responsibly and transparently.

“AI governance establishes the policies, roles, and oversight structures that guide the ethical and secure deployment of AI. Clear accountability helps prevent unauthorized use and ensures strategic alignment.”

Options A and C are essential components of governance but are not its core definition. Option D is a business outcome, not a governance goal. Thus, B is the most comprehensive and accurate objective.