OECD Updates AI Principles

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released an update of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Principles: a set of guidelines that promote use of AI that is innovative and trustworthy, and that respects human rights and democratic values.

The OECD AI Principles were first adopted in 2019 to guide AI actors in their efforts to develop trustworthy AI and provide policymakers with recommendations for effective AI policies. In May 2024, adherents updated them to consider new technological and policy developments.

To date, there are 47 governments that have committed to the OECD AI Principles, including the U.S. Its value-based principles include:

• inclusive growth, sustainable development, and well-being;
• human rights and democratic values, including fairness and privacy;
• transparency and explainability;
• robustness, security, and safety; and
• accountability.

Recommendations for policy makers include:

• investing in AI research and development;
• fostering an inclusive AI-enabling ecosystem;
• shaping an enabling interoperable governance and policy environment for AI;
• building human capacity and preparing for labor market transition; and
• international cooperation for trustworthy AI.

The OECD and ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1, Information technology, Subcommittee (SC) 42, Artificial intelligence, benefit from mutual engagement and cooperation. The OECD has a Category A Liaison with SC 42, allowing the organization to actively participate in the work of the committee (but without the right to vote in formal committee ballots).