WIC holds seminar on international standards for responsible AI

The World Internet Conference Specialized Committee on Artificial Intelligence (WIC SC on AI) held a seminar in Beijing on Sep 23 under the theme “International Exchange on Standards for Responsible AI,” as part of its Standards Program. 

Experts and representatives from international organizations, standardization bodies, research institutes, industry associations and the business community convened online and on-site to exchange views on standards development, industry practices and international cooperation in responsible AI.

Wei Kai, vice-chairman of the SC on AI, co-leader of the Standards Program and director of the AI Institute at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), presided over the meeting and delivered opening remarks. 

John Higgins, co-leader of the Standards Program and chairman of the International AI Governance Association, shared his views on building governance consensus through international standards and promoting global coordination and the exchange of best practices.

During the presentation session, experts from the British Standards Institution, the International Telecommunication Union, the IEEE Standards Association and CAICT shared their experiences and insights into responsible AI governance, international standardization practices and the development of a standards ecosystem.

In the industry practice session, experts discussed standards implementation, practical needs and areas for cooperation. 

Representatives from the AliResearch Institute, the China Unicom Smart City Research Institute, Huawei's Institute of Strategic Research, the Cyber Security Association of China and Sangfor Technologies Inc. shared insights drawn from their industry and research experience.

These included how to better align standards with technological evolution and industrial applications, and how to make standards more pragmatic and useful.

Participants agreed that the rapid evolution of AI makes a practical approach and international coordination increasingly important in developing responsible AI standards. 

They said that standards should be closely aligned with industry practice, translating governance requirements such as safety, transparency and accountability into measures that can be implemented and verified. 

International standards should also serve as a common language for sharing experiences and producing more compatible and actionable outcomes in key areas of industrial development. 

They also offered suggestions for the Standards Program's work in the coming year.

A WIC official said in concluding remarks that standards provide a vital link between technological innovation, industry practice and international governance. 

Since its establishment, the Standards Program has systematically reviewed progress across major international standards organizations and continued to promote international exchanges on standards for responsible AI. 

These exchanges have covered key areas ranging from opportunities and challenges in standards development, open-source inclusiveness and collaborative governance, to industry practice and standards ecosystem development.

Moving forward, the Standards Program will continue to bring together stakeholders, focus on the practical needs and priority areas of AI industry development, and deepen exchanges and cooperation. 

It will connect resources, leverage complementary strengths, promote collaborative innovation, jointly advance the development of international AI standards, and contribute to the healthy and orderly development of the industry.