The inaugural training workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) standards under the Global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Critical and Emerging Technology (CET) Standards (GICS) Program was held from September 22- 25, 2025, in Panama City, Panama. The GICS Program, funded by the United States Government and facilitated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), seeks to exchange insights, build expertise, and foster connections among stakeholders in the standardization of key emerging technologies around the globe.
The recent workshop, Broad-Based Foundational Training on International AI Standardization for Latin America, was designed to help participants develop necessary skills and deepen their understanding of national, regional, and international standards development processes for AI. This three-day workshop brought together over 40 technical experts, academics, policy makers, and standards developers from eight countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Participants discussed their organizations and countries’ current engagement with the technology and relevant standards, and collaborated with their peers to develop action plans to best address their needs. They also heard from ANSI members who are experts in AI standardization and actively participating in ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 on artificial intelligence. These sessions helped participants learn how to participate, engage more effectively, and strengthen their skills within international standards development, along with more in-depth technical discussions on the implementation and adoption of international AI standards in their national and regional context.
Participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the workshop, highlighting the robust connections they made with their regional peers and the clear, practical insights they gained. Representatives from each participating country also emphasized that the action plans developed during the workshop will be instrumental in strengthening their engagement in international and multilateral standardization activities, while fostering greater domestic support for AI standards development and adoption.
About the GICS Program
Launched in 2024, the GICS Program is a cooperative agreement between the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP). This three-year program focuses on capacity building for target countries in international standards development as well as the national and/or regional adoption of international standards in the ICT and CET sectors. The program covers an array of countries in six geographical regions, including South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe.
ANSI invites members to actively participate in and share their expertise through speaking opportunities and other engagement in this program’s activities. For more information about the program, upcoming events, or ways to get involved, please visit GICS.ANSI.org or email ANSI at [email protected].
