Maintaining trust in new tech
Rapid technological change, especially in AI and digital systems, is challenging traditional standards and conformity assessment, prompting calls for updated approaches to maintain trust in new technologies.
Standards and conformity assessment provide confidence that products operate safely and as expected, yet traditional methods struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change driven by digitalization and AI. Wolfram Zeitz of the IEC highlights that product cycles now move far faster than before, creating uncertainty among consumers who question whether conformity is being properly maintained. The challenge is compounded when software, data or AI can alter a product’s behavior after testing, raising concerns about ongoing safety and performance. Henrike Gördes of DKE emphasizes that standards-based trust has long underpinned technological success but is now harder to sustain as technology evolves at an accelerating rate.
The issue is particularly acute for AI, where rapid technological shifts make it difficult to establish stable frameworks for standardization. Progress is being made, such as the development of ISO/IEC 42007, a draft standard for conformity assessment schemes for AI systems. Existing programs like the IECEE Industrial Cyber Security Programme, based on IEC 62443, address cybersecurity challenges in AI. A new pilot program with IEC TC 62 is also exploring how to assess AI in medical devices, reflecting efforts to adapt conformity assessment to emerging technologies.
New technologies required to meet net-zero targets, such as electric vehicle battery systems and charging infrastructure, also depend on standards and conformity assessment for safety and performance. IECEE provides testing and certification for EV battery systems, charging systems, and solar panels, relying on standards like IEC 61215 and IEC 61730. IECRE, established over a decade ago, offers third-party certification for wind, marine, and solar PV power plants, ensuring compliance with standards such as IEC 61400 for wind energy systems.
Traditional conformity assessment follows a linear model, but digital and AI-based technologies complicate this approach. Autonomous vehicles, for example, may undergo software updates that alter their operation, raising questions about how to demonstrate ongoing safety. DKE advocates for a shift toward a continuous, cyclical model of assessment that reflects the reality of products that evolve throughout their lifecycle. This approach is being developed in collaboration with national standards bodies and aims to better align conformity assessment with the dynamic nature of modern technologies.