(completed) Mission KI

Strengthening the development of trustworthy AI

By developing a voluntary, practical AI quality standard, we ensure the quality and trustworthiness of AI without stifling innovation. The aim is to create competitive advantages for AI providers, to enhance reliability for AI operators and to increase users’ trust in AI. Through AI Innovation & Quality Centres, entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs receive tailored support in developing trustworthy AI ‘Made in Germany’. At the same time, the centres offer an interactive space for the general public.

MISSION AI is developing a voluntary quality standard for Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enhances the quality and trustworthiness of AI systems.

Since 1 August 2024, the EU AI Act has regulated the development and use of AI systems across Europe to promote trustworthy and human-centred AI in the EU. The legislation takes a risk-based approach: it focuses on prohibited and high-risk AI systems. Strict requirements and conformity assessment procedures apply to the latter.

Other AI systems, such as those used in automated contract review or supply chain optimisation, are, however, subject to certain transparency requirements; this means, in particular, that end-users must be informed that they are currently interacting with AI. However, the regulation does not directly address the fact that these AI systems also have implications for companies in terms of financing or quality management.

This is where MISSION AI comes in. Our initiative aims to create a flexible framework for all AI systems – including those below the high-risk threshold – through a voluntary, practical quality standard. At the same time, the standard aligns with the requirements of the EU AI Act for high-risk AI systems, thereby ensuring interoperability.

MISSION KI enhances market transparency and boosts AI operators’ confidence in AI technologies, whilst simultaneously creating competitive advantages for AI providers who adopt the standard. By testing the standard in real-world use cases, we ensure that it is developed in a way that is needs-based and practical.

The MISSION AI Quality Standard offers clear benefits for AI providers and AI operators.

AI providers benefit from an efficient quality certification process that is equally useful for large companies and start-ups. This enhances their competitiveness, as they can distinguish themselves in the market through objectively comparable quality criteria. Furthermore, by adopting the MISSION AI Quality Standard, AI providers lay the groundwork at an early stage to meet the requirements of the EU AI Act. This is particularly helpful should the scope of application of their AI system change in such a way that it is subsequently classified as a high-risk AI system.

AI operators, in turn, benefit from greater market transparency and comparable quality across the AI systems in use. This also strengthens end-users’ trust in the technology, thereby increasing societal acceptance of artificial intelligence.

A win-win situation that drives the development of a robust and trustworthy AI ecosystem in Europe.