Nokia Leads Global AI Standards for Telecom Networks

AI is poised to redefine the world as we know it, offering robust solutions to some of humanity’s most complex challenges. Yet, as with any transformative technology, its development is darkened by questions of control and consistency.

“Artificial intelligence holds immense promise and opportunity to solve some of our most pressing and complex problems,” explain Nokia experts Peter Merz and Karina Palyutina. “Due to its potential power, many believe that it should be developed with regulatory oversight and guardrails in place.”

It has led to a patchwork of AI governance across the globe, creating a significant risk of fragmentation.

We need only look to history for a cautionary tale. The electrical industry, developing in isolation, bequeathed us a world of incompatible plugs and differing voltages. As Peter and Karina ask, “If AI is indeed the electricity of the 21st century, does it risk a similar fate?”

Fortunately, the telecommunications sector offers a more optimistic blueprint.

From the establishment of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 1865, our industry has prioritised international co-operation and interoperability.

Following the recent celebration of World Standards Day, it is timely to ask if we can once again leverage the power of standards to ensure a cohesive, AI-driven future.

The global regulatory patchwork

Governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate AI, with their approaches shaped by differing priorities, from human-centric values to the drive for speed to market.

The result is a fractured landscape; the EU has its unified AI Act, while the US sees varied approaches at the state level. Elsewhere, Brazil is advancing its own bill and China has its own distinct action plan.

The divergence creates a formidable hurdle for any organisation operating on a global scale.

“Companies with global operations face a difficult challenge in reconciling the complex and evolving regulatory landscape and conducting their compliance obligations coherently across potentially conflicting requirements,” the experts note.

To prevent innovation from becoming mired in a compliance quagmire, a common language is needed.

It is where global standards bodies, like the International Standards Organization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), play a vital role, providing the framework to bridge these divergent perspectives.

They are, as the Nokia team suggests, “the missing link for innovative and responsible adoption of AI”.

Standards as the unifying force

It is crucial to understand that standards are not the same as regulations. Instead, they provide a consensus-based foundation that can inform and unify regulatory efforts.

The drive for global AI standards is not about replacing national laws but about making conversations around them more productive. A key distinction must be made for the telco audience.

“Unlike technical standards, governance standards guide trustworthy AI development, with a focus on non-application-specific elements of AI such as terminology and management frameworks,” Peter and Karina clarify.

The integration of AI into the core of network technologies, particularly as we look towards 6G, can be massively accelerated if the industry adopts these standard governance practices early.

Doing so will save individual organisations from having to solve the puzzle of disparate requirements on their own.

Therefore, the message from the Nokia experts is clear: the telecoms industry must look beyond its traditional sphere of influence. “As we look forward to next-generation standards like 6G, we encourage the industry to look beyond telecommunications standards and contribute also to global, multi-stakeholder bodies like ISO and CEN/CENELEC.”

By actively participating in these foundational conversations, the telecommunications sector can help shape a globally trusted, interoperable AI ecosystem. The proactive engagement will not only benefit our industry.

Still, it will ensure that the transformative power of AI is harnessed responsibly for the entire digital economy, following the path of collaborative success rather than fragmented chaos.