Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the key technology of our decade. It can simplify or even fully automate work steps for us in both private and professional contexts. However, as with any transformation, there are security and application questions. To use the advantages of the technology sensibly, we need to find answers.
Foremost is the question of Digital Trust. Trust in new technologies such as AI is based on users perceiving them as safe and reliable. Only then do acceptance and willingness to use increase. Companies must therefore ensure that AI decisions are transparent and fair, meeting certain standards. The first guidelines are set by the EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation. Now it's up to companies to follow suit and use the momentum to implement AI governance as the foundation for their AI transformation.
Prioritise governance, risk, and compliance in your company and focus on a responsible approach to and use of AI.
Get an overview of your value chain. Where are there potential improvements through (generative) AI? What is needed to make its use trustworthy?
Clearly state within your organisation what setup is important to accelerate AI transformation based on standards and best practices while maintaining flexibility and speed in business.
Create application cases, learn from the pioneers in your segment, and actively drive projects to become one yourself.
Combine the four steps for your holistic AI transformation.
Governance and clear structures for AI success
Optimised processes for tailored AI governance
Robust governance through targeted compliance management
Risk strategies for a secure AI integration
Efficient AI governance through smart process automation
Clear visibility of AI systems through comprehensive inventory.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key technology of digital transformation and is already present in many products and processes today. Trust in the reliability, transparency, and fairness of AI is so crucial for widespread use that the European Union has drafted its own regulation for AI – the EU AI Act. The regulation aims to set rules for AI systems, promote innovation, and protect EU citizens.
It requires governance that makes the risks of AI systems manageable throughout their entire lifecycle. Implementation poses challenges but also opportunities for organisations. With the right approach, they can improve their AI quality, demonstrate social responsibility, and take a leading role in digital transformation with AI.
PwC, DEKRA, and the City of Hamburg have joined forces to establish CertifAI, a joint venture for certifying artificial intelligence. With this, the three partners respond to the rapidly increasing need for safety and transparency in AI systems. CertifAI is an independent certification body that systematically evaluates and certifies AI systems. This benefits companies looking to certify their AI systems and enhance transparency and trust in their applications.
MISSION KI is a joint project by acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). This research and development project is part of the key initiatives of the Federal Government's digital strategy aimed at strengthening the digital competitiveness of the German economy. Among the partners of this initiative is PwC Germany. In the context of this offering partnership, consisting of leading experts in AI testing and certification, PwC will develop and test AI quality and testing standards and establish a voluntary AI quality seal.
The EU AI Act sets new standards as the first multilateral framework for the use of AI systems across the entire value chain. The regulation follows a risk-based approach that categorizes AI applications into different levels, making risks more transparent.
Companies across various industries face the challenge of implementing the technology into their processes without turning operations into a safety risk. Depending on the risk level of the systems used, companies have up to 36 months for the transition. This is little time to meet both compliance and governance requirements but also presents a great opportunity to position themselves as pioneers in national and international competition.
Even though the requirements initially mean more effort, organizations should view the EU AI Act as an opportunity to purposefully drive the inevitable AI transformation based on governance as an effective management approach. The requirements to be met depend on the company’s role within the value chain. For companies sourcing AI systems, it is important to check whether manufacturers, providers, and dealers comply with the requirements set by the EU AI Act for the respective solution.
But where should companies start to successfully transition to AI business models? The following “Winning Formula” guides us:
The path to successful transformation involves focusing on several components. Firstly, it is important for companies to determine their level of maturity and define their own ambitions. Building on this, it is essential to create internal awareness for the need for change and establish a knowledge and value base. Once AI use cases have been identified and the prerequisites for trustworthy AI deployment have been set, measures for a successful transformation based on the right strategy can be tackled.
“Artificial intelligence is an indispensable technology. With the ‘AI made in Europe’ brand, we have the opportunity to shape global development from the very beginning. It is now up to companies to consistently seize this opportunity.”
