KPMG Australia has been announced as the first organization in the world to achieve BSI certification to a globally applicable standard designed to enable the safe management of artificial intelligence (AI) and build trust to enable its secure and responsible use in society.
The international standard Computer science. Artificial intelligence. Management system (BS ISO/IEC 42001) aims to help organizations use AI responsibly, addressing considerations such as non-transparent automatic decision-making, the use of machine learning instead of coded logic by humans for systems design and continuous learning.
“AI has the potential to be a significant positive force in society, transforming lives around the world. But to realize its benefits, it is essential to put safeguards in place for the safe and ethical use of AI,” says Manuela Gazzard, President of Regulatory Services at BSI.
“It’s fantastic to see KPMG Australia demonstrate the work they have done to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI and become the first in the world to achieve BSI certification under the AI Management System Standard . This is an important step forward that has the potential to enable other global organizations to manage their technology responsibly.
The guidelines, published in the UK by BSI less than a year ago, explain how to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve an AI management system, with a focus on safeguards. It is an impact-based framework that provides requirements to facilitate context-based AI risk assessments, with details on risk treatments and controls for AI products and services. Internal and external AI.
It aims to help organizations introduce a quality-centric culture and play their role responsibly in the design, development and delivery of AI-based products and services that can benefit them and society in its whole.
“Certification to this standard reassures stakeholders of the safe and responsible use of AI in an organization’s products and services, paving the way for them to harness AI to accelerate progress toward a future a better and sustainable world. BSI is proud to be at the forefront of ensuring the safe and reliable integration of AI into society,” Gazzard said.
Following the publication of ISO 42001, KPMG Australia established a team in February 2024 to put the company forward for the BSI certification process. This involved a detailed audit of how the company approached AI, from governance to project management to embedding trusted AI practices into the way KPMG Australia people work. ISO standards are not only intended to meet a minimum requirement, but also to anchor a culture of continuous improvement.
“AI can solve complex challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. We are committed to helping our clients adopt this technology reliably and ethically, driving both efficiency and innovation,” says John Munnelly, KPMG Australia Chief Digital Officer.
“As ISO 42001 has become the new benchmark for AI certification, we are delighted that our approach has reached this extremely high bar. This certification of our robust AI management system is a testament to the fact that we live and breathe our trusted commitment to AI. This is also an integral part of our current AI strategy, which focuses not only on high-level governance but also detailed implementation to create ethical AI solutions in accordance with ISO 42001 standards.”
