GSMA Launches Responsible AI Roadmap for Telecom Industry

GSMA Launches Responsible AI Roadmap for Telecom Operators

The GSMA has announced the launch of an industry-wide initiative known as the Responsible AI (RAI) Maturity Roadmap, championed by Axiata, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, and Telstra. This initiative aims to provide telecom operators (GSMA members) with the tools and guidance to test and promote the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI). Also Read: Reliance AGM 2024: Key Announcements on Jio 5G, Cloud, AI, and Digital Services GSMA says this initiative is designed to help the telecom sector, projected by McKinsey to potentially generate up to USD 680 billion over the next 15-20 years from AI, adopt the technology responsibly. The roadmap, developed with input from McKinsey and a group of operators, provides a structured framework for operators to evaluate their AI practices and set future goals. It offers tools for measuring progress and adhering to best practices in areas such as fairness, transparency, and privacy. The Director General of the GSMA said: "The transformative potential of AI has long been apparent, but its integration into our work and lives must be done responsibly and transparently for it to be truly effective and sustainable. This roadmap will now empower more MNOs to embrace AI, knowing that, in line with the whole sector, they are doing so responsibly and ethically." "Responsible AI is the right way to explore and unlock the many opportunities the technology presents, and the telecom industry is proud to lead the way as the first sector to commit to this approach - we hope others will follow our example." Also Read: Singtel and SK Telecom Sign MoU to Propel New Network Technologies and AI Following industry consultation, the GSMA has combined these approaches with existing global regulations, recommendations, and standards from international organisations, including the OECD and the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, to create a roadmap for the entire industry to align on the use of RAI. "This is the first time an entire sector has committed to a common approach to AI," the GSMA said. The five key aspects of the roadmap include an organisation's strategic vision, AI governance, technical controls, collaboration with third-party ecosystems, and change management and communication strategies. In total, 19 MNOs, including Axiata, BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, Du UEA, E&, Globe, KPN, MTN, Orange, Singtel, STC, Telefonica, Telenor, Telia, Telstra, Turkcell, TIM, True, and Vodafone, have committed to the roadmap as a way of tracking, maintaining, and improving their responsible use of AI, following significant industry involvement in the consultation and development process. Also Read: SK Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, e&, and Singtel Launch Global Telco AI Alliance The GSMA Board Chair and Chairman and CEO of Telefonica said: "The speed with which AI has now become a central part of tech and telecom operations demonstrates its power and undeniable value, but also the risks we must consider as an industry and the need to place ethics at the heart of AI to prevent its uncontrolled development." "It is crucial for us all to ensure responsible guidelines for the use of AI are implemented now, and it is great to see the telecom industry leading the way with the GSMA's new roadmap."

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. Also: Amazon joins C2PA steering committee to identify AI-generated content 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. Also: IBM will train you in AI fundamentals for free, and give you a skill credential - in 10 hours 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. Also: The future of computing must be more sustainable, even as AI demand fuels energy use 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. Also: Global players look to create baseline to evaluate generative AI applications "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."