Informing Emerging AI Certification Programs Through Three Case Studies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become intertwined in our everyday lives, predicting our next texted word, unlocking our smartphones through facial recognition, ironically recommending The Social Dilemma and The Great Hack on Netflix (two films about AI misuse), and several other examples based on our past behaviour. Several countries and organizations are heavily adopting and investing in AI research and development while concerns around AI misuse rise. How AI should be governed remains an open question. Should AI be governed through public governance – like legislative and regulatory action, or private governance – like certification programs? Since AI’s rapid developments currently outpace the legislative and regulatory process, it may be ineffective to pursue public governance as the AI governance answer. This logic leaves private governance, and possibly certification programs, as the possible answer to how AI should be governed. Certification programs consist of three elements: set standards with a corresponding logo, accreditation organizations, and accredited auditors. Private governance and its three elements are often used to address transnational issues like environmental stewardship, global agrifood, and international banking