WESF plays a role in promoting standardization and eliminating global trade barriers.
During the recent World Standards Day, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced the International AI Standards Summit 2025, a joint initiative that aims to tackle challenges related to artificial intelligence, with a focus on developing and maintaining standards that promote safety, transparency, and inclusivity in AI.
The 2025 International AI Standards Summit will take place on December 2-3, 2025, in Seoul, hosted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS).
The initiative follows the adoption of the Global Digital Compact by world leaders in September, and is a direct response to a call to action by the United Nations to advance governance through international standards. The UN recently published its High-level Advisory Body report, “Governing AI for Humanity,” which underscores the significance of standards collaboration and calls for an AI standards exchange among its recommendations.
During the announcement of the initiative, ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica emphasized that there is a critical need for a collaborative approach to effective AI governance through international standards. "The adoption of international standards in a coordinated way is instrumental in ensuring a future of responsible use of AI,” Mujica said. “Standards can support policy goals where global governance is essential, promoting the dissemination of beneficial systems and practices, and fostering the efficient development of advanced AI technologies.”