The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) jointly issued the Seoul Statement at the International AI Standards Summit, held last week in Seoul, Korea.
The Seoul Statement outlines four key commitments to support trustworthy AI systems that benefit society, drive innovation, and uphold fundamental rights through standardization:
“AI has the potential to bring profound benefits to people and economies across the globe,” said Dr. Sung Hwan Cho, president of ISO. “But to ensure this potential is realized equitably and responsibly, international standards are essential. This joint statement reflects our commitment to strengthening cooperation across our organizations to deliver relevant, robust, and human-centric standards that guide the responsible design and use of AI technologies.”
“The rapid rise of AI confirms a basic truth: technology is always about people” said Jo Cops, IEC president. “As AI becomes central to the global economy, we must urgently establish a guiding framework. This joint commitment underscores the value of international standards as the blueprint for safe, trustworthy, and people-centered AI development.”
“Standards are technical tools to uphold the principles we want to live by,” said Seizo Onoe, director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “The vision set out by this joint statement calls for diverse expertise and global commitment to collaboration and consensus—exactly what drives our standards work and exactly the spirit needed to create the future we want.”
More about the International AI Standards Summit
Hosted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), the Summit had over 300 participants from 65 countries with attendees representing government, industry, academia, civil society, the public and private sectors, international organizations, and UN agencies.
