Partner News: AI Standards Hub recently launched by Turing

A new initiative led by Bayes Centre partner, The Alan Turing Institute, has recently launched to bring together UK expertise in AI and standards to facilitate collaboration and improve how AI is used across the economy.

The initiative, known as the AI Standards Hub, launched on 12th of October by Bayes Centre partner The Alan Turing Institute in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Office for AI.

It is part of the UK Government's National AI Strategy, a ten-year plan which aims to build on the UK’s strengths in AI, recognising the power of AI to increase resilience, productivity, growth and innovation across the private and public sectors.

The AI Standards Hub will ensure that industry, regulators, civil society and academic researchers have the tools and knowledge they need to contribute to the development of standards and make informed use of published standards to advance trustworthy and responsible AI.

The initiative, led by the Alan Turing Institute, will address challenges faced by stakeholders in navigating the evolving landscape of AI standardisation and aims to increase the UK’s contribution to the development of international standards for AI.

Standards are set to play an increasingly significant role for advancing the governance and adoption of AI in the coming years as the range of applications of AI continues to increase. They set out best practices to ensure that AI-related products, processes and services perform as intended and can help unlock the economic potential of AI by increasing consistency and interoperability of AI technologies.  

The Hub includes a newly developed interactive online platform, designed to enable users to keep track of existing AI standardisation efforts and related policy developments, to gain knowledge about developing and using standards, and to engage with other users through a range of community features.

In addition, the Hub will pursue a programme of community-building, engagement, and research around the challenges of AI trustworthiness and the role of standards in addressing them. This will include encouraging collaboration in the AI community, allowing for more coordinated contribution to standards development on issues such as transparency, security, and uncertainty, with a view to helping organisations demonstrate that AI is used safely and responsibly.

The Hub is structured around four key pillars:

Observatory: offering multiple interactive libraries that capture AI-related standards that are under development or have already been published, alongside relevant policy initiatives
Community and collaboration: facilitating new connections, coordination, exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving through online formats and in-person events
Knowledge and training: providing resources for developing the knowledge and skills needed to get involved in AI standardisation and make use of published standards

Research and analysis: producing research and analysis on strategic questions to inform the direction of AI standardisation efforts in the UK and internationally

As a key aspect of its work across these areas, the Hub will seek to collaborate and build relationships with relevant initiatives and partners around the world, emphasising the importance of international alignment in the context of AI standardisation.

The ultimate aim of this initiative is to consider the appropriate role of standards for governing AI. This will support innovation and growth while protecting people and our fundamental values.

Sir Adrian Smith, Director and Chief Executive of The Alan Turing Institute, said: 

As artificial intelligence technologies play an increasingly crucial role across all sectors it’s vital that the development and use of these technologies adheres to commonly agreed and ethically sound standards. This is why our new initiative is so important - it will support innovation and ensure that organisations and people are using AI responsibly. We look forward to working closely with our partners to continue to build and engage an inclusive community around AI standardisation.

Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Damian Collins, said:

Our National AI Strategy builds on the UK's position at the forefront of artificial intelligence to fuel innovation and strengthen trust in this transformative technology. The hub’s launch sets the bar for the responsible creation, development and use of AI to unlock its full potential and drive growth across the country.

Sundeep Bhandari, Strategy Manager, Digital Sector, NPL said:

The launch of the AI Standards hub signifies a coordinated UK effort to strengthen the UK’s contribution to the development of global AI technical standards. The hub provides an environment for our world leading scientific researchers to take their work through from the lab to market and enables innovators to access, collaborate and create global standards. We’re delighted to be working with our partners to ensure confidence across technologies and the associated data to support a safe and secure digital world.

Scott Steedman, Director-General, Standards at BSI, said:

As the UK’s National Standards Body BSI is delighted to be playing a central role in the AI Standards Hub, a world leading initiative to increase understanding of the standards that are supporting the deployment of AI technologies, and to inform the development of new standards. One of the most important of these for businesses of all sizes will be the AI management standard ISO/IEC 42001, which we will championing as a British Standard in the UK, and which will help companies take advantage of AI technologies in a responsible way.

Dame Wendy Hall, AI Council member and Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, said:

The potential influence of AI on the public and private sectors will present both challenges and opportunities. The new AI Standards Hub will aid in the establishment of best practices to ensure that goods and services perform as intended. I encourage public and commercial organisations to use the Hub's resources and prioritise AI standards when designing and building AI systems. This will give the public confidence that new technologies will be utilised in ways that maintain our shared values as we enter an AI-enabled age.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser and National Technology Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said:

Leveraging science and technology to deliver real-world outcomes for the public is critical to our nation’s success and requires a strategic approach across government, academia and industry. The UK's new AI Standards Hub should help create the conditions needed to develop a thriving AI industry and promote innovation.

Minister for Science and Investment Security Nusrat Ghani, said:

Playing a key role in everything from climate science and medical diagnostics to factory robotics and smart cities, AI technology is already having transformative impact on our economy and society. “The UK is one of the world’s most advanced AI economies, but as with any quickly-evolving, innovative technology, it is essential that we maintain public trust as AI continues to play a greater role in our day-to-day lives.. That’s why it is so encouraging to see the esteemed Alan Turing Institute launch the AI Standards Hub, helping to shape and strengthen the governance of AI globally, delivering on the government’s National AI Strategy, and marking the UK’s position at the forefront of AI technology.

Partner News: AI Standards Hub recently launched by Turing

Related Links