NIST asks for help to create standards for artificial intelligence

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking industry input on ways to develop standards for artificial intelligence.

Under a federal executive order issued on February 11, NIST is to develop the plan within 180 days.

“Timely and fit-for-purpose AI technical standards, whether developed by national or international organizations, will play a crucial role in the development and deployment of AI technologies, and will be essential to building trust and confidence about AI technologies and for achieving economies of scale,” according to the agency.

Consequently, NIST will host a workshop on May 30 in Gaithersburg, Md., as well as a webcast.

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Issues that NIST seeks to better understand include current status and plans regarding the availability, use and development of AI technical standards and tools in support of reliable, robust and trustworthy systems that use AI; needs and challenges regarding the existence, availability, use and development of AI standards and tools; and the role of federal agencies in finding tools to meet the nation’s needs.

“The expected outcome of the workshop is an annotated outline of a plan for federal engagement in the development of technical standards and related tools in support of systems that use AI technologies,” according to officials.

Prior to the workshop, NIST will issue a draft outline of a federal engagement plan and based on the workshop discussion and outcome, the agency will then prepare a draft plan for public and agency review.

A request for information was published in the Federal Register on May 1 and comments must be received by May 31. Relevant comments will be posted at https://www.nist.gov/topics/artificial-intelligence/ai-standards.

More information is available here.