techUK attends first International AI Standards Summit - Renewing the focus on international convergence
techUK is on the ground in Seoul as part of the UK delegation at the first International AI Standards Summit. The Summit brought together standards development organisations, governments, and industry around a shared priority: international convergence in AI governance.
Prime Minister for the Republic of Korea, Minseok Kim, opened the Summit by describing the Seoul Statement as an inspiring blueprint for the AI era. He emphasised the importance of international forums like this Summit in shaping the future trajectory of AI as a disruptive technology with a defining role in humanity’s future.
While deeply steeped in the sociotechnical standards and strategies for designing, deploying, and governing AI, here are techUK’s key takeaways from the International AI Standards Summit.
Key highlights
- The just-announced, Seoul Statement on AI , aims to reinforce the role international standards can play in building trust, enabling interoperability, and supporting inclusive AI adoption globally.
- Discussions focused on how AI is reshaping society, and how a shared international framework can help ensure its benefits are widely distributed.
- Speakers repeatedly returned to the need for a clear “north star” for trustworthy AI – one that translates high-level principles into practical outcomes that work for people, for the planet, and for society.
- The UK was strongly represented, including a main-stage spotlight on the UK AI Standards Hub and its three years of work promoting transparent, fair, and effective AI standardisation to support a maturing AI market.
- A clear message emerged that trustworthy AI and standards go hand in hand: standards help institutionalise trust and responsibility across the AI lifecycle.
Seoul statement
The Seoul Statement commits the IEC, ISO, ITU to:
- Incorporate sociotechnical dimensions into standards developments so they reflect how AI is developed, deployed, and experienced in real-world contexts
- Deepen the understanding of interplay between standards and human rights to ensure human-centred approaches throughout the AI lifecycle
- Strengthen a multi-stakeholder community to develop and apply AI standards to ensure that AI standards are relevant, effective, and impactful
- Enhance public-private collaboration ensuring industry, governments, and civil society work together to use AI to its full potential
How the UK leadership fits into this picture
Funded by the UK Government, the UK AI Standards Hub is a collaborative project between the BSI, National Physical Laboratory, and the Alan Turing Institute which aims to be a global resource to strengthen the role of AI standards. This puts the UK in a strong position to convene and lead international collaboration, reinforced by the Hub’s upcoming conference in March 2026 in Glasgow on AI standards, measurement, and assurance.
More broadly, the UK’s established institutions and standards bodies — including the Alan Turing Institute, Ada Lovelace Institute and BSI — continue to place the UK at the centre of global discussions on trustworthy AI. This leadership was clearly visible throughout the Summit, both on stage and in wider conversations.
techUK’s view
techUK sees this as a clear signal that international organisations and industry are increasingly focused around international convergence on AI standards.
For UK businesses operating across borders or looking to enter new markets, convergence can help reduce fragmentation and lower compliance burdens. Coherent, interoperable standards allow companies to focus resources on developing and deploying high-impact AI systems responsibly.
techUK stands ready to work with international partners and UK policymakers to support standards that promote safety, trust and human rights while preserving the conditions needed for sustained AI innovation and economic growth.
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
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Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
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- [email protected]
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
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- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
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