The joint project was announced at the 16th German IT Security Congress in Bonn Bad Godesberg. The aim is to develop concrete quality and security standards on the basis of which technical testing organizations will be able to expertly assess AI applications in the future. According to Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the certification is intended to ensure the reliable and responsible use of AI applications and also serve as a European role model.

In order to implement the joint project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) - one of Germany's leading institutions for applied research into AI and machine learning - is combining its expertise with the BSI's many years of experience in the areas of IT security and in the design and recognition of IT testing standards. The development of the AI certification is currently being carried out by an interdisciplinary consortium of renowned experts from the fields of machine learning, IT security, law and ethics under the leadership of Fraunhofer IAIS. Professor Dr. Dr. Frauke Rostalski from the University of Cologne is leading the working group within the cooperation to classify the legal aspects of the certification and is advising the German Bundestag's Enquete Commission on Artificial Intelligence. The team of Professor Dr. Markus Gabriel, who researches the philosophy of artificial intelligence at the University of Bonn, is also centrally involved in the project.

"Germany has nothing to hide in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning," says BSI President Arne Schönbohm, adding: "As a national cyber security authority and authority in the field of cryptography, we have been working on these topics for several years and are pursuing a holistic approach. In addition to mathematical and technical aspects, we also consider the economic, political and socio-political significance of AI. By setting appropriate requirements and standards in the field of AI, we are helping to improve information security in digitalization and thus increase people's trust in new technologies and applications."