ISO/IEC 22989:2022

ISO/IEC 22989: Establishing common terminology

The ISO/IEC 22989 standard provides a comprehensive framework for defining concepts and terminology in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). By establishing consistent terminology, the standard ensures smoother compliance processes, clearer communication within organizations, and more effective collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Importantly, the terminology is universally applicable, making it a valuable resource for organizations across various sectors.

Why Standardized Terminology Matters

AI is a rapidly evolving field, integrating knowledge from disciplines as varied as computer science, cognitive science, and ethics. The diversity in approaches, methods, and applications often leads to confusion or miscommunication. With clearly defined terms, ISO/IEC 22989 promotes a shared understanding of key AI concepts, enabling stakeholders to align their objectives and practices more effectively.

Standardized terminology supports:

• Internal Operations: Enhances coordination across teams working on AI projects, ensuring everyone speaks the same "language."
• Compliance and Regulation: Simplifies adherence to standards and regulatory requirements by clarifying definitions.
• Stakeholder Communication: Facilitates discussions between technical experts and non-specialists, enabling informed decision-making.
• Development of Other Standards: Serves as a foundational reference for creating new AI-related standards.

Key Features of ISO/IEC 22989

• Comprehensive Scope: Covers fundamental AI concepts such as machine learning, natural language processing, and trustworthiness.
• Interdisciplinary Relevance: Bridges terminology across fields like data science, ethics, and cognitive computing.
• Practical Applications: Provides insights into AI lifecycle stages, including design, validation, deployment, and monitoring, which are essential for AI system implementation.

Examples of Defined Concepts

• Data quality checking: process in which data is examined for completeness, bias and other factors which affect its usefulness for an AI system
• Trustworthiness: ability to meet stakeholder expectations in a verifiable way
• Machine learning algorithm: algorithm to determine parameters of a machine learning model from data according to given criteria

Benefits of Using ISO/IEC 22989

Organizations adopting ISO/IEC 22989 gain the advantage of a harmonized approach to AI development and governance. This ensures their systems are robust, transparent, and aligned with global best practices. Moreover, standardized terminology contributes to building trust among end-users, regulators, and the public by promoting clarity and accountability.

Accessibility

ISO/IEC 22989 is available for free, making it an accessible tool for any organization looking to improve their understanding and application of AI concepts. Whether you are a technology developer, policymaker, or educator, this standard provides a solid foundation for navigating the complex AI landscape.