Standards

Voluntary standards promulgated by international and national standard-setting organizations (SSOs) are playing a central role in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). Voluntary standards have traditionally focused on inter-operability of technology components, but in recent years have evolved to focus more on processes, risk management, and technology governance. AI is a leading example for this new role for standards, as international AI governance standards promulgated by SSOs such as the International Organization for Standardization and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are playing a central role in AI governance to fill in the gaps left by incomplete government regulation. This reliance on private standards has various benefits such as increased agility and greater participation of AI experts in AI governance. Voluntary standards also have their limitations, including the absence of direct enforceability and lack of democratic accountability.