This digest piece proposes a framework for government‑mandated AI audits, drawing on financial auditing standards to ensure transparency across an AI system’s full lifecycle—from data and model development to deployment. It emphasizes that professional, standards‑based oversight can foster public trust and accountability without stifling innovation, turning audits into drivers of advancement rather than burdensome compliance. Legal professionals will find it essential for understanding what credible, institutionalized AI governance could look like and how regulators may begin enforcing it. By offering actionable reforms and highlighting the role of independent auditors, this article equips lawyers and policymakers with practical guidance to shape and prepare for the next phase of AI regulation.