The world's leading artificial intelligence companies are increasingly calling for common global standards to help ensure that rapidly advancing AI remains safe, interoperable and human centric, confirming what President Ursula von der Leyen at the Tallinn Digital Summit stated: “Now, setting standards for Europe is good. But it is our engagement with our trusted partners that makes European standards finally global standards.”

On 2 November, the three organisations signed a Letter of Intent to explore the options for a possible AI Partnership Project (AIPP).

Bettina Funk, Chair of the ETSI General Assembly states: “Global cooperation is essential in AI standardisation, even if priorities and expectations are not always the same. Exploring a new partnership with Japan and South Korea offers an opportunity to ETSI members to make progress on practical standards that respond to real needs. Such cooperation could bring valuable new perspectives and complement existing standardisation efforts, with a focus on delivering practical results.”

Markus Mueck, Chair of the ETSI board adds: “Artificial Intelligence is evolving at unprecedented speed, making global collaboration on standards more critical than ever. An AI Partnership Project can complement the existing AI ecosystem, providing a unique platform for industry, academia and research communities to align priorities, accelerate standards development, and help ensure that AI technologies are deployed with the levels of trust, interoperability and scalability needed for widespread adoption.”

Jan Ellsberger, ETSI Director General concludes: “The signing of this Letter of Intent marks an important milestone in strengthening international cooperation on AI standardisation, building on the well-established partnerships between our organisations. By leveraging our collective expertise and ongoing standardisation efforts, we aim to support the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, both in Europe and internationally, while promoting a human-centric approach grounded in safety, sustainability, trustworthiness, and interoperability. We invite partners and standards shapers worldwide to join forces in advancing globally aligned standards for trustworthy AI.”