CEN-CENELEC focus group report: road map on artificial intelligence (AI)

Abstract

This report is the official Road Map analysis from the CEN-CENELEC Focus Group on AI. It builds on a strong consensus of over 80 experts. The Focus Group has established an overall framework for European AI standardization, by developing a high-level vision (chapter 1.2). This vision is applicable for the whole AI ecosystem and aims at supporting the European AI industry and mitigate risks for European citizens. The Road Map creates an overview of existing standardization activities in IEEE, ETSI, ISO/IEC, ITU-T and CEN-CENELEC (chapter 1.3 and Annex B). As part of this landscape analysis a total of 29 use cases were submitted from CEN-CENELEC TCs to the Focus Group (chapter 3.4). Through a series of face-2-face and web meetings, the Focus Group identified 13 themes among which the following seven have been addressed for European standardization (chapter 3):

• Accountability
• Quality
• Data for AI
• Security and privacy
• Ethics
• Engineering of AI systems
• Safety of AI systems

Some of these themes are already covered in the work of other SDOs, e.g. ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 (see Annex B). But when mapping the current international activities to the themes, identified by the Focus Group, gaps do occur between the needed European standardization activities and the current work by other SDOs. An overview of potential work items is given in Annex D. The Focus Group suggests that CEN-CENELEC adopts the following conclusions and actions:

1. The European handling of AI standardization requires a dedicated CENCENELEC group to be set up for the long term. A JTC (similar to the JTC for Cybersecurity) might be the most appropriate structure.
2. An initial proposal for a scope for such a JTC should be prepared by the AI Focus Group before the end of 2020. As soon as a JTC is operational, the AI Focus Group can conclude its work. It is anticipated that a number of AI Focus Group members will also play a role in a JTC.
3. The JTC should also act as a contact point for the European Commission as well as for other SDOs active in Europe in the field of AI standardization.

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