i-PRO establishes “pioneering” AI governance framework and Ethics Committee

Posted to Products on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Share:

THE ESTABLISHMENT of a “comprehensive” governance framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been announced by i-PRO (formerly Panasonic Security), the specialist developer of surveillance systems. The move aims to ensure responsible R&D for – and usage of – AI technologies.

Building on the ‘Ethical Principles for AI’ document published by i-PRO in December last year, the company has now launched the i-PRO AI Ethics Committee, which is tasked with overseeing the newly introduced AI ethics review process. The latter is going to be integral to the development lifecycle of all AI products.

In addition, i-PRO plans to introduce AI ethics training for its employees, with the education programme set to begin next month.

i-PRO has been at the forefront of AI R&D for many years now, in turn delivering cutting-edge sensing solutions that use edge AI technology in the security, public safety and medical domains.

Commitment to ethical AI

CEO Masato Nakao has emphasised the company’s overriding commitment to ethical AI. Nakao said: “i-PRO recognises the significant impact of AI on society. By establishing an AI governance structure ahead of others in the industry, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that our AI initiatives align with our social responsibilities. Our goal is not only to advance AI technologies. but also to lead by example in terms of ethical AI practices.”

Nakao continued: “In addition, we will co-operate with industry peers, partners and customers to foster a culture of responsible AI development and usage, thereby positioning i-PRO as the industry leader in AI ethics.”

Responsible basis

Given the rapid spread of AI products and services, there has been a worldwide demand for companies to use AI on a responsible basis. ISO/IEC 42001, an international standard for AI management systems, was issued in December 2023, while the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, encompassing comprehensive regulation for AI, was approved in May this year.

For its part, i-PRO is actively addressing these standards and regulations to realise its vision of “always creating new value and contributing to the safety and security of society” through responsible R&D and usage of AI.

*Further detail concerning i-PRO’s continuing commitment to responsible AI is available online at https://corp.i-pro.com/en/technology/ai-ethics