Brussels, 22 May 2024 – What does it take to build trust in AI: TIC Council hosts Annual Summit
AI as we currently know it is a revolutionary tool. Its ability to automate tasks, analyse vast datasets, and drive decision-making stands to make a revolutionary impact across economies and societies.
But what if humans lost control? What if artificial intelligence (AI) got so powerful, that roles were reversed and we became the subservient tool to AI, no longer able to think freely and make decisions for ourselves?
To avoid the worst, we need to build guardrails that enable us to retain control to leverage AI as a force for good. To do so, we have a limited time window to create a framework that will maximise the potential benefits of this world-changing technology, while limiting potential harms. That was the overriding sentiment of the TIC Summit, organised by TIC Council, the representative of the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector.
Commenting on AI’s revolutionary potential, Hanane Taidi, Director General, TIC Council, said: “In the present context, we are the masters of our own destiny. Time is of the essence if we want to remain so. We need guardrails that reduce risks associated with AI to a minimum, and we need them fast.”
She went on to say: "As part of the quality infrastructure, the testing, inspection, and certification industry has already played its part in keeping society safe through past industrial and technological revolutions. We stand ready once again to bring our expertise to the fore, and build a reliable AI infrastructure that is safe and secure.”
This year’s TIC Summit brought together a record attendance of 250 participants, underscoring the global interest in emerging technologies like AI, and the important role that the TIC sector can play in shaping them. Discussions ranged from collective responsibility, impact on consumers, international cooperation, and how to certify AI.
Speakers included Kilian Gross, Head of Unit of AI Policy Development and Coordination at the European Commission; Caroline Read, UK Deputy Ambassador to the EU; Luc Julia, Chief Scientific Officer at Renault Group; William Xu, Deputy Secretary-General at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Industry Association; Risto Uuk, EU Research Lead at the Future of Life Institute; Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor City of London; Alyssa Lefaivre Škopac, Head of Global Partnerships and Growth at the Responsible AI Institute; Géraldine Picaud, CEO at SGS; Alexander Hoefmans, Deputy Head of Cabinet for Mathieu Michel; Susan Taylor-Martin, CEO at BSI; Jeremy Rollison, Head of EU Policy & Senior Director at Microsoft; Chantal Guay, CEO at Standards Council of Canada; Serge Goriely, researcher and filmmaker; Hanane Taidi, Director General at TIC Council; Dr.-Ing. Michael Fübi, Chairman of the Executive Board of Management of TÜV Rheinland and President of TIC Council; Frederico Oliveira da Silva, Senior Legal Officer at BEUC; Matt Gantley, CEO at UKAS; and Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO at DEKRA.
Dr.-Ing. Michael Fübi, Chairman of the Executive Board of Management of TÜV Rheinland and President of TIC Council: “To address the challenges posed by AI, it is crucial that quality infrastructure like certifiers and standardisation bodies collaborate together and also engage with civil society to better understand how AI is impacting their lives. We must pool our collective expertise to facilitate the responsible and ethical advancement of AI, ensuring its safety, reliability, and trustworthiness.”
