Han Leads International Discussions on AI Data and Machine Learning Standards

Establishment of Special Task Force for AI Service Ecosystem
Proposal of New International Standards for Explainable AI, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced that it has led international standard discussions on AI data, machine learning, and AI reliability to standardize artificial intelligence (AI), a core element of the Korean New Deal policy.

On the 3rd, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s National Institute of Technology and Standards and the Ministry of Science and ICT’s National Radio Research Agency reported that 33 experts from industry, academia, research, and government participated as the Korean delegation in the online-held '6th AI International Standardization Meeting' from the 20th to 30th of last month.

As a result of participation, achievements included the establishment of a new special working group for standardizing the AI service ecosystem, a new international standard proposal (NP) for Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), and continued work on a new international standard draft for machine learning data quality.

First, at Korea’s proposal, a special working group (Ad-hoc group) for standardizing the 'AI service ecosystem' was newly established. Korea took the chairmanship of the working group. Professor Cho Young-im of Gachon University was entrusted with this important role.

With experts from the United States, Australia, and others participating, a new international standard draft concerning the 'AI service ecosystem' will be prepared and planned to be approved at the next meeting. It is expected to help activate AI services in the future by establishing roles and requirements among stakeholders such as suppliers, consumers, and service providers in the AI application industry.

Additionally, the Korean delegation shared the results of operating the AI data special working group led by Korea over the past year. Discussions will continue to propose a new international standard draft related to the 'AI Data Framework.'

Secondly, a new standardization task for 'XAI system development guidelines' was proposed. It is expected to be adopted as a new task early next year. Professor Lee Jae-ho of the University of Seoul is in charge of this role.

For example, this technology enhances AI reliability by explaining to consumers the decision process and reasons behind AI-based financial loan screening results.

Lastly, the delegation continued standardization work following the adoption of Korea’s new international standard proposal on 'machine learning data quality' in April. The work is led by Ha Su-wook, a principal researcher at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).

This standard draft focuses on improving the quality of data input into AI systems and ensuring data interoperability between systems. Korea led the drafting of standards regarding data quality overview and terminology definitions.

The Korean delegation also publicized the need to promote standardization of AI governance guidelines, which have recently attracted growing interest.

Professor Kim Kyung-min of Ewha Womans University raised issues such as organizational ethical codes to minimize risks like personal information leakage caused by automated decision-making through AI, trustworthy data supply chains, and management and supervision measures including usage guidelines.

Lee Seung-woo, head of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, and Kim Jeong-ryeol, head of the National Radio Research Agency, evaluated, "In the fiercely competitive field of AI international standardization where countries vie for leadership, Korea has made significant contributions to expanding the scope of international standardization projects including machine learning data quality used in AI, XAI systems, and the AI service ecosystem."

They added, "To expand inter-ministerial cooperation and active participation in standardization by industry and research sectors, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Science and ICT will jointly hold an AI industry standardization workshop this month. We will spare no continuous support to quickly position Korea alongside the United States, Canada, China, and others as a leading country in AI international standards."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.