IEC, ISO, and ITU respond to open letter asking for a pause in AI development

Three key international standards developing organisations (SDOs) – the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – have issued a response to the open letter in which Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, Yuval Harari, and others asked for a pause in ‘giant AI experiments’. In their response, the three SDOs make reference to their work in developing international standards for AI and highlight the role of such standards in underpinning regulatory frameworks and providing ‘appropriate guardrails for responsible, safe, and trustworthy AI development’. They further note that standards ‘can help mitigate the risks associated with AI systems and ensure that they are aligned with societal values and expectations’. The response ends with an invitation for interested stakeholders to join the work of developing consensus-based standards and encourage their adoption.