techUK attends first International AI Standards Summit - Renewing the focus on international convergence

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 own conference in March 2025 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

Head of AI and Data, techUK

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.

Email:: [email protected]

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