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. 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.