German

Launch of the artificial intelligence standardization roadmap

The kick-off event for the development of a standardization roadmap on artificial intelligence (AI) took place on the 16th of October 2019 at the Federal Ministry of Economics in Berlin. At this event, around 300 participants from industry, science, society and politics discussed with representatives of VDE|DKE and DIN how norms and standards can help to make the application of artificial intelligence in various sectors safe and reliable and to simplify the introduction of corresponding systems. At the beginning of the kick-off event, the motivation and objectives were explained from different perspectives by means of keynote speeches and a discussion round. Seven thematic groups were identified in advance, whose needs and normative recommendations for action are to be worked out by the time version 1.0 of the Artificial Intelligence standardization roadmap is completed in autumn 2020: Basics, Ethics/Responsible AI, IT Security, Quality and Certification, Mobility and Logistics, AI in Medicine and AI in Industrial Automation. 

In parallel workshops, these groups were discussed with interested participants and the further procedure in these subject areas was coordinated. The industrial automation workshop played a very special role in this context: Version 3.0 of the German Standardization Roadmap Industrie 4.0 was handed over to the German government as early as spring 2018 at the Hanover Fair. In the course of the work on the following version 4.0, which is expected to be published in spring 2020, the need for normative action in the field of artificial intelligence has already been identified and the corresponding recommendations for action have already been coordinated with participating national bodies, such as the Industrie 4.0 platform. The Industrie 4.0 standardization roadmap already includes a comprehensive map of normative activities in the field of artificial intelligence - both of a general nature and specific to industrial automation. 

SCI4.0 founds expert council on artificial intelligence for industrial applications

The current hype about Artificial Intelligence results from its key technological function, but as a consequence leads to a variety of different activities among the various stakeholders. In particular, associations, institutions and consortia are emerging in the application and standardization of Artificial Intelligence. In order to avoid parallel duplication of work, to promote the exchange between these different activities, and ultimately to develop an opinion that is as harmonized as possible, the Standardization Council Industrie 4.0 (SCI4.0) established the Expert Council on Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Applications. 

"In the standardization of artificial intelligence for industrial applications, we are faced with the challenge of national coordination and harmonization of standardization activities in order to present a consolidated picture of the requirements and standardization needs in the context of AI in German industry, both nationally, vis-à-vis the Federal Government and internationally, and to be able to carry out suitable standardization activities in a coordinated manner. The Expert Council on Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Applications plays an essential role in this context and represents the linchpin for normative discussion and coordination". explains Dr.-Ing. Christoph Legat, Chairman of the Expert Council on Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Applications. 

"In particular, the clear separation of horizontal and vertical standardization tasks is essential for the targeted development of higher-level standards and their application and refinement in different areas of application". Dr.-Ing. Jens Gayko, Managing Director of SCI4.0, points out the hurdles in standardization policy. 

At the constituent meeting of the Expert Council on the 24th of October 2019 at VDE|DKE in Frankfurt am Main, the current status of the standardization map on artificial intelligence was outlined, fundamental fields of action for artificial intelligence were discussed and strategic and content-related aspects of the upcoming international meetings were agreed upon.

The best opportunity to bring these aspects into the international environment is the meeting of the German-Chinese sub-working group Industrie 4.0 in Berlin in November. Here it is planned that the expert council will be in charge of an exchange and coordination with Chinese standardization experts on the topic AI in Industrie 4.0.

The main focus will be on the collection and exchange of use cases. In addition, the interdisciplinary exchange with other expert groups on the role of AI, e.g. in the context of functional security, IT security, as well as the digital twin and the administrative shell, should promote further insights and open up lines of action.

In principle, the Expert Council on Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Applications is open to everyone. If you are interested, please contact us.