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Responsible AI Roadmap for Telecoms Industry Launches
GSMA framework backed by 19 mobile network operators is the first to apply across a sector
September 17, 2024
3 Min Read
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The GSMA, the global association representing mobile network operators (MNOs), has introduced a Responsible AI (RAI) Maturity Roadmap for the telecoms industry.
The initiative aims to help telecom companies adopt and measure responsible and ethical approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) while unlocking a market opportunity estimated at $680 billion over the next two decades.
The roadmap was developed in partnership with McKinsey and is supported by 19 major MNOs, including BT Group, Vodafone, Telefonica, Orange, Singtel and Deutsche Telekom. It draws on insights from these operators and aligns with global AI regulations and ethical standards set by organizations including the OECD and UNESCO.
Addressing a $680 Billion Market Opportunity
According to McKinsey’s estimates, the expanded use of AI in the telecoms sector could generate as much as $680 billion over the next 15 to 20 years. The GSMA aims to ensure that AI is integrated ethically and responsibly across the sector. The roadmap represents the first time an entire industry has committed to a unified, responsible AI framework.
The RAI Maturity Roadmap enables telecom companies to assess their current AI maturity levels and identify opportunities for improvement. It provides clear guidance on how to advance responsibly in AI use while offering tools to measure progress and promoting best practices for AI governance.
The GSMA’s roadmap is informed by extensive industry consultation and existing global regulations and ethical guidelines from organizations like the OECD and UNESCO. The framework promotes responsible AI practices that align with these internationally recognized standards.
Core Dimensions and Best Practices
The RAI Maturity Roadmap is built on five key dimensions that are critical for the responsible use of AI:
Vision, values and strategic goals: Aligning AI initiatives with the organization’s overall objectives.
Operating model: Ensuring AI governance is embedded throughout the organization.
Technical controls: Implementing AI solutions in line with regulatory requirements.
Collaboration with third-party ecosystems: Working responsibly with external partners and stakeholders.
Corporate change management and communication: Driving internal change and maintaining transparency in AI initiatives.
The roadmap also encompasses best-practice principles such as fairness, human oversight, privacy, security, transparency and environmental sustainability.
Leading by Example
“This roadmap will now empower more MNOs to embrace AI in the knowledge that they are doing so responsibly and ethically,” said Mats Granryd, director general of the GSMA. “The telecoms industry is proud to lead the way as the first sector to commit to this approach.”
Telefónica CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete López added: “The speed with which AI has now become a central part of tech and telecoms operations demonstrates its power and undoubted value, but also the risks we must consider as an industry and the need to include ethics at the heart of AI to prevent its uncontrolled development. It is crucial for us all to ensure responsible guidelines for the use of AI are implemented now and it is great to see the telecoms industry leading the way on this with the GSMA’s new roadmap.”
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