WASHINGTON – NRF today announced that its Center for Digital Risk & Innovation will join a diverse group of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) will bring together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.
“The retail sector is an active user of AI tools which retailers use to better serve their customers, improve the shopping experience and increase the efficiency of their operations,” NRF Vice President of Retail Technology & Cybersecurity and Executive Director of the NRF Center for Digital Risk & Innovation Christian Beckner said. “The AI Safety Institute Consortium will provide retailers with the opportunity to test and validate the tools, methodologies and best practices for AI governance in the private sector.”
The retail sector is an active user of AI tools which retailers use to better serve their customers, improve the shopping experience and increase the efficiency of their operations.
In November 2023, the NRF Center for Digital Risk & Innovation released its Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Retail Sector to support the industry’s AI governance and strategic planning.
“The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence. President Biden directed us to pull every lever to accomplish two key goals: set safety standards and protect our innovation ecosystem. That’s precisely what the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium is set up to help us do,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Through President Biden’s landmark Executive Order, we will ensure America is at the front of the pack – and by working with this group of leaders from industry, civil society, and academia, together we can confront these challenges to develop the measurements and standards we need to maintain America’s competitive edge and develop AI responsibly.”
The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as civil society and academic teams. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.
The full list of consortium participants is available here.
As the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, NRF engages with retail technology leaders to deliver insights on technology trends and challenges and facilitate collaboration across the sector.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
About the NRF Center for Digital Risk & Innovation
The NRF Center for Digital Risk & Innovation is the National Retail Federation’s hub for engagement on key technology issues that have significant policy and risk management implications for the global retail industry. The Center engages with retailers, industry partners and other stakeholders to develop guidelines and recommended best practices on technology issues and inform decision-making and risk management by retail business leaders. nrf.com/cdri