Page 5 - Report Roundtable on the future of AI Standards

AI Standardization Roundtable Report: The future of AI, regulation and industry development

The roundtable, “Harmonizing Global Collaborations in the AI Industry: A roundtable on
the future of AI standardization, regulation and industry development”, organized by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at its AI for Good Global Summit on 30 May
2024 provided a platform for dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders in artificial
intelligence (AI).
Participants highlighted the value of ITU’s leadership in organizing annual summits to advance
global collaboration on AI for social good and supporting standards development and capacity
building.

The discussions underscored the necessity of continuous collaboration to navigate the rapid
advancements in AI and their wide-ranging implications for various economic sectors and
regions of the world. Participants recognized the importance of adaptive and dynamic AI
governance to the sustainable and inclusive growth of AI.

Participants included representatives of the leading developers of international standards – ITU,
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) – as well as governments, companies, various research and development
entities, and ITU’s sister United Nations agencies.

The constructive dialogue facilitated by the roundtable promoted the integration and
harmonization of actions taken by government and industry with respect to AI innovation and
associated regulations and technical standards.

Participants shared the view that meaningful collaboration will be foundational to AI’s
contribution to sustainable development. They also highlighted the importance of stimulating
interactions between AI users and data owners to cultivate a diverse ecosystem of expertise
capable of ensuring trustworthy AI systems.

Emphasis was placed on the potential of Geneva to spearhead the coordination of international
AI standards and the supporting collaboration of AI stakeholders.

Key topics addressed
• Convergence and collaboration: Discussions revolved around identifying key areas
where AI standards, regulations, and industry needs converge. The sessions explored
common challenges and opportunities for global cooperation in AI standardization.
• Ethics and governance: A significant portion of the discussions highlighted the ethical
dimensions of AI, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI deployment and the
establishment of ethical guidelines and governance frameworks.
• Global vs. regional regulations and standards: The dialogue also touched upon the
balance needed between developing international standards and accommodating
regional specificities.

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