Artificial Intelligence (AI) - The Need for New Safety Standards and Methodologies

Malcolm Jones

doi:10.56094/jss.v55i3.39

Authors

Malcolm Jones Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v55i3.39

Keywords:

AI, artificial intelligence, standards, system safety

Abstract

There have been a series of challenges in developing appropriate safety standards and methodologies as technology evolves to ensure their safe implementation. These challenges, which fi rst arose at the dawn of the industrial revolution, will inevitably continue. New technologies will always forge ahead in a competitive marketplace; failure to do so will inevitably lead to organizational demise. However, these developments must be matched by a complement of research activity seeking to ensure that appropriate new safety standards and methodologies are put in place to maintain acceptable levels of risk. A new challenge now confronts us in the form of artifi cial intelligence (AI), where we stand at the frontiers of decision making in relation to what roles machines and humans should play in optimal decision making and how this will impact safety.

Author Biography

Malcolm Jones, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)

Malcolm Jones previously led the Distinguished Scientists group at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). He currently holds the position of Scientific Adviser to AWE’s Chief Scientist and directly supports AWE’s Chief of Product Assurance. His career at AWE has taken him through a wide range of scientific and engineering topics, but he has maintained a continuous association with nuclear weapon design and process safety and top-level nuclear safety standards. His interests extend to corporate safety cultures and the root cause reasons for failures. He is a Fellow of the International System Safety Society and is an adviser to a number of senior U.K. Ministry of Defence and AWE safety bodies. He has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for contributions to the U.K. defence industry and is a recipient of the John Challens’ Medal, which is AWE’s highest award for lifetime contributions to science, engineering and technology. He has also been honored by VNIIA in the Russian Federation for his work in fostering nuclear weapon safety collaboration between the U.K. and the R.F.