Global telcos pledge to adopt responsible AI guidelines

A band of mobile operators worldwide have pledged to adopt guidelines designed to test and assess their "responsible" use of artificial intelligence (AI) across different levels of maturity. 

Released by the industry group, GSMA -- the Responsible AI Maturity Roadmap aims to offer the tools telcos need to evaluate their existing AI use against where they intend to reach, such as those goals and requirements. It also provides measurement tools to reach these targets and ensure "industry-wide best practices" in the responsible use of AI, GSMA said in a statement Tuesday. 

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The statement noted that the roadmap encompasses customized guidelines that correspond with different stages of AI adoption, spanning from pilots to full transformation. The bigger the ambition the telco has, the higher level of responsible and ethical AI maturity it should implement, GSMA said. 

In addition, the guidelines were developed with insights from McKinsey and several operators, alongside considerations for international regulations as well as recommendations and standards from various global organizations, including the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. 

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Globally, 19 mobile carriers have stepped up to pledge their use of the roadmap, including BT Group, Globe, Singtel, Telia, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone, and Telstra. 

According to estimates from McKinsey, GSMA said the telecoms industry's use of AI can climb up to $680 billion over the next 15 to 20 years. The sector's commitment to use a standardized approach in regards to AI marks the first such collective effort to do so, GSMA added. 

The roadmap looks at key components that can streamline a telco's AI use, including its values and strategic goals, operating model, maintaining AI governance across all operations, technical controls aligned with regulatory requirements, and collaboration with third-party ecosystems. 

Its AI principles are also based on various established best practices, including human oversight, privacy and security, transparency, accountability, and environmental impact. 

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GSMA hopes that by offering clarity and a common approach to the responsible use of AI, it will provide mobile carriers with the ability to commit to their AI adoption, knowing that they will do so based on "agreed and ethical ways." This then will "unlock" the full value of AI more quickly, GSMA noted. 

The roadmap lays out four levels of responsible AI maturity: foundational, evolving, performing, and advanced. For example, Foundational AI users will be guided on AI principles they should establish, roles that are needed for adoption, and basic registries to track AI use cases.

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"The speed with which AI has now become a central part of tech and telecoms operations demonstrates its power and undoubted value, but also the risks we must consider as an industry and the need to include ethics at the heart of AI to prevent its uncontrolled development," said José María Álvarez-Pallete López, chairman, and chair of GSMA's board, who also is CEO of Telefónica. 

"It is crucial for us all to ensure responsible guidelines for the use of AI are implemented now."