16 January 2024 , 09:33
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The UK's national standards body, the British Standards Institution (BSI), has released the world's first international guideline on AI safety.
The guide focuses on how to create and improve an AI management system with proper safeguards. It also provides advice on how businesses can responsibly develop and use AI tools.
This comes amid ongoing discussions about regulating this fast-growing technology, which has gained prominence due to the public release of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Last November, the UK hosted the first global AI Safety Summit where world leaders and major tech firms discussed the safe development of AI and potential long-term threats.
BSI's chief executive, Susan Taylor Martin, said: "AI is a transformational technology. For it to be a powerful force for good, trust is critical.
"The publication of the first international AI management system standard is an important step in empowering organisations to responsibly manage the technology which, in turn, offers the opportunity to harness AI to accelerate progress towards a better future and a sustainable world. BSI is proud to be at the forefront of ensuring AI's safe and trusted integration across society."
Scott Steedman, director general for standards at BSI, said: "AI technologies are being widely used by organisations in the UK despite the lack of an established regulatory framework. While government considers how to regulate most effectively, people everywhere are calling for guidelines and guardrails to protect them."
"In this fast moving space, BSI is pleased to announce publication of the latest, international management standard for industry on the use of AI technologies, which is aimed at helping companies embed safe and responsible use of AI in their products and services."
"Medical diagnoses, self-driving cars and digital assistants are just a few examples of products that already benefit from AI. Consumers and industry need to be confident that in the race to develop these new technologies we are not embedding discrimination, safety blind spots or loss of privacy."
"The guidelines for business leaders in the new AI standard aim to balance innovation with best practice by focusing on the key risks, accountabilities and safeguards."
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