Page 7 - Report Roundtable on the future of AI Standards

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

experience in building consensus had made clear that sound governance will demand synergy
in the actions taken by government, industry, academia, and civil society.

Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa, Chief of the Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies
within the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development
at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) outlined the key
elements, challenges, and opportunities related to AI and global harmonization. She
emphasized UNIDO's role in bridging different sectors to advance inclusive and sustainable
development. She highlighted the environmental impact and noted that AI's carbon footprint is
significant. UNIDO is actively developing a comprehensive measurement system for companies
to assess their AI carbon footprint and other environmental impact (“AIM Green”), intending
to implement relevant global metrics. She stressed the importance of ethical AI development
and the need for international collaboration.

Golestan Sally Radwan, Chief Digital Officer at United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) discussed UNEP's approach to AI in addressing climate change, biodiversity, and
industrial impacts, focusing on opportunities as well as risks introduced by AI. She detailed
considerations relevant to environmental monitoring and reporting, analyzing data to gain
insights, and supporting decision-making processes. She also highlighted the complex risks
associated with AI, such as energy consumption and indirect pollution, emphasizing the need
to consider these factors when assessing AI's environmental impact.

ISO Secretary-General, Sergio Mujica, discussed the organization's approach to ensuring
diversity and inclusivity in standards development. He highlighted that ISO maintains a
transparent, consensus-based standardization process and includes academia and civil society
in its development of international standards offering practical AI guidance and essential
terminology to bridge AI discussions across various industries.

IEC Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, Philippe Metzger, highlighted the broad
impact of AI across all sectors and the organization's commitment to developing AI standards
that enable broad responsible adoption. The 800 experts in the joint IEC and ISO technical
committee develop foundational standards, while IEC and ISO technical committees work
on sector-specific applications. IEC and ISO are currently engaged in over 40 AI projects.
IEC focuses on leveraging its technical expertise to integrate ethical, safety and sustainability
considerations into AI development.

The Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference (WIC), Ren Xianliang, detailed the
conference's role in AI governance since its inception in 2014 and its official establishment
in 2022. With participation from over 100 countries, WIC emphasizes inclusivity and benefit-
sharing. In 2023, WIC established an AI working group to enhance cooperation on AI
standards. The conference has launched the "AI for Social Good" action plan, underscoring
its commitment to improving global well-being through AI and seeking collaborative efforts
with various international organizations, academia, and the private sector.

Karen McCabe Senior Director, Public Affairs and Marketing, at the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), discussed how the organization had developed around
150 AI standards at the time of writing, including standards addressing ethical dimensions
of AI systems. She noted the rapid pace of technological innovation, which often outpaces
standardization efforts, and stressed the importance of standards continuously evolving to
balance ethical considerations with technological advancements.

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