The Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1 for Information Technology, under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), has a Subcommittee (SC) 42 dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. This committee, based in New York, held a meeting on December 27, 2023. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) serves as the secretariat for JTC 1, with the United States playing a pivotal role in its operations.
The increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industries utilizing data technology comes with inherent risks that necessitate stringent management protocols. To address these challenges, the ISO/IEC 42001: 2023 standard offers a framework for managing risks and opportunities associated with AI while advocating for its responsible use. This standard outlines an AI management system that can effectively navigate the complexities of the technology. It is designed to assist organizations of all sizes and types that provide or use products/services incorporating AI systems in establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously enhancing an AI management program.
The AI management program, guided by the principles of the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” methodology, aims to enhance the quality, safety, monitoring, transparency, and reliability of AI applications. Its ultimate goal is to enable businesses to leverage the full potential of AI while ensuring that AI systems are developed, governed, and utilized ethically.
Wael William Diab, the head of SC 42, emphasized the significance of ISO/IEC 42001: 2023 as a pioneering global standard for AI. This standard is poised to enhance documentation practices, instill customer confidence in AI systems, and facilitate the responsible deployment of AI technologies. By adapting established control systems approaches to AI, this standard is expected to unlock the societal benefits of AI while addressing ethical and reliability concerns across various application domains.
The collaborative development of the standard involved stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including public and private sectors, regulatory bodies, technology experts, researchers, and educational institutions. Notably, over one-third of the 63 countries represented in SC 42 are developing nations, contributing to a robust standards development environment that caters to both users and developers of AI technology.
ISO/IEC 42001, focusing on data technology, artificial intelligence, and control systems, is available for purchase through the ANSI webstore or licensing. It can also be acquired as part of the comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Package, which encompasses ISO/IEC 42001, ISO, and IEC 22989 standards.
In the realm of JTC 1 and SC 42, ISO/IEC JTC 1, in its 36th session, addresses the evolving requirements of the global information and communications systems (ICT) industry, facilitating the rapid development and adoption of relevant standards. The United States leads JTC 1, with ANSI serving as the secretariat. SC 42, established in 2017, is the first global standards committee dedicated to comprehensively examining the AI IT landscape. It is responsible for overseeing 21 published ISO standards and acts as the central point within ISO/IEC JTC 1 for AI standardization efforts.
Furthermore, ANSI, a private non-profit organization, plays a crucial role in promoting voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems to enhance American business competitiveness and quality of life. Representing over 270,000 businesses, organizations, and 30 million experts worldwide, ANSI serves as the official U.S. representative to the IEC and ISO. For more information, visit the ANSI website at Ansi.com.
