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Model card

Working definition

Reviewed 30 July 2026

A model card is a concise, structured record accompanying a trained model. It communicates intended and out-of-scope uses, model and evaluation details, performance across relevant conditions and groups, ethical considerations, known limitations, and other information needed for responsible downstream decisions.

Context

Why it matters

Model cards reduce information asymmetry between developers, reviewers, buyers, and deployers and make limitations easier to discover before inappropriate use.

Operating note

What this looks like in practice

  1. 01Tailor content to actual downstream decisions and affected stakeholders.
  2. 02Report disaggregated results, uncertainty, limitations, and failed evaluations.
  3. 03Version the card with the model and link claims to underlying evidence.

Sources & further research

Primary authority anchors the definition. Research links add conceptual or operational depth. External sources may update independently; always verify legal duties against the current official text.

  1. Research paper

    Model Cards for Model Reporting

    Introduces the model-card framework for transparent, context-aware model reporting.

    Mitchell et al.
    2018    Open source ↗
  2. Official source

    The Language of Trustworthy AI: An In-Depth Glossary of Terms

    Connects model reporting to the wider language of trustworthy and responsible AI.

    NIST
    2023    Open source ↗