However, this progress entails a significant degree of responsibility: to ensure that AI is developed and used in an ethical manner, prioritising essential principles such as fairness, transparency, privacy and security, in other words, guaranteeing responsible AI.
To guarantee that these principles are abided by and that they guide responsible AI use, it’s essential to secure a common framework that serves as a benchmark for different organisations. A framework that sets clear and measurable standards to assess the maturity of the implementation of codes of conduct for responsible AI and promote their consistent adoption across the sector.
Ethical principles of responsible AI implementation
Committed to this vision, Telefónica has been a key contributor to the development of the responsible AI framework and roadmap, a GSMA initiative that seeks to guide companies in the industry towards embracing ethical AI principles. This tool has been designed with insightsfrom McKinsey in partnership with other telco industry leaders, including Axiata, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telstra.
This frameworkincludes the elements required to implement responsible AI based on a vision, the operating model and technical controls, collaboration with third parties, management of the AI value chain and change management and training. Thanks to this framework, both organisations that are just starting out in their use of responsible AI and those that already have certain elements in place will be able to have a point of reference and build a clear plan with specific actions.
Given the above, this framework consists of three basic tools: Step-by-step guide: This tool offers a practical approach to help companies to navigate the key phases of responsible AI implementation, ranging from risk identification to the application of specific measures. It provides a clear and detailed roadmap that guides organisations through each step of the evolution of their model for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.
- Best practices tool: This tool provides access to a set of best practices drawn from leading responsible AI companies that have successfully integrated ethical principles into their operations, including best practices that we’ve developed at Telefónica.
- RAI roadmap methodology: This methodology provides a flexible and scalable framework to enable companies to assess the maturity of their responsible AI implementation. It allows organisations to create an actionable responsible AI implementation plan, measure its progress over time and adjust their approach to the industry’s regulatory and operational needs.
Telefónica’s vision of responsible AI and future challenges
At Telefónica not only have we contributed our knowledge, we’ve also shared our experience as pioneers of the implementation of responsible AI. Since 2018 we’ve incorporated ethical principles into our AI processes by means of a comprehensive responsible AI governance model, demonstrating how technology can evolve in an ethical and socially beneficial manner.
José María Álvarez-Pallete López, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica and Chairman of the Board of the GMSA, highlighted the importance of this initiative.
“The speed with which AI has become a central part of technology and telecommunications operations demonstrates its power and its undoubted value, but also the risks we must bear in mind as an industry and the need to position ethics at the heart of AI to prevent its uncontrolled development. It’s essential for us all to guarantee responsible guidelines for the use of AI, and it’s wonderful to see how the telecommunications sector is leading the initiative with the GSMA’s new roadmap”.
Francisco Montalvo, CDO of Telefónica Innovación Digital, underlined Telefónica’s commitment to this mission:
“At Telefónica we’re committed to spreading the culture of responsible AI (RAI) within the telco sector by sharing our far-reaching experience of ethical and sustainable AI. Since we began this journey in 2018, we’ve pioneered the implementation of RAI principles by means of a comprehensive governance model. Our collaboration with the GSMA in developing the RAI maturity roadmap has been driven by this commitment. We’re confident that the adoption of this well-structured roadmap will not only benefit the industry, it will also allow us at Telefónica to keep on evolving and achieving excellence in responsible AI.
At Telefónica we continue to advocate technological innovation that places people centre stage and builds a more ethical, secure and sustainable digital future. With this initiative with the GSMA providing a pioneering tool to implement responsible AI, we’re leading the way towards a kind of AI that benefits everyone while remaining at the forefront of ethics and responsibility in the use of AI”.
