NTT DATA’s AI Governance
NTT DATA aims to establish a fair and trustworthy framework for AI and data utilization, based on a correct understanding of the risks posed by AI and data utilization technologies.
Overview
NTT DATA's AI Governance refers to “the promotion of activities that comply with legal systems and societal norms in AI and data utilization, as well as enhancing societal understanding and acceptance. Its aim is to establish a fair and trustworthy framework for AI and data utilization, based on a correct understanding of the risks posed by AI and data utilization technologies. Furthermore, in addition to copyright infringement and obstruction of sales channels due to highly similar generated content to existing content, manipulation of voting behavior through intentional false information generation, and threats to security due to easy access to hazardous material generated information are also considered problematic. This enables society and customers to maximize benefits and achieve a sustainable society.”
Risks and Challenges
While the use of AI brings various conveniences, it also presents unique challenges in terms of accuracy and quality control. Effective AI governance is essential to providing reliable and trustworthy AI. Particularly, while the rapidly expanding use of AI has been highlighted for its convenience, there are various risks associated with its outputs, such as errors and biases, information leakage from generated instructions, copyright infringement risks concerning training data and generated content. These risks are being addressed by stricter regulations in some regions and countries and there is an urgent need to improve governance.
NTT DATA, as a company involved in AI, actively participates in government-led meetings on AI governance, with the aim of contributing to the realization of a "more enriched and harmonious society" where humans and AI coexist. Additionally, NTT DATA continues to expand and sustain its efforts in AI governance, focusing on initiatives such as the establishment of "AI Guidelines," "AI Risk Management Policies," and guidelines focused on the development and use of AI systems.
NTT DATA's Initiatives on AI Governance
NTT DATA not only actively utilizes AI, but also promotes governance activities for control, striving for fair and ethical AI use for value creation and sustainable societal development. These activities focus on both quality and ethics. In response to the trends in generative AI, NTT DATA is also advancing efforts to concretize governance measures for the appropriate use of such technologies. By revising guidelines and policies, we aim to provide our customers with AI services that are secure and reliable.
Governance Structure
1. Establishment of an AI Governance Framework
Recognizing that risks arising from AI utilization can have significant impact regardless of business scale, we established the AI Governance Office in April 2023 as a dedicated organization responsible for AI risk management.
Subsequently, recognizing that addressing AI risks requires expertise not only in technology but also in areas such as legal, intellectual property, and information security, we reassigned members from relevant departments to the AI Governance Office in April 2024 to strengthen cross-functional expertise.
Furthermore, to establish AI governance globally, we collaborated with risk management departments across group companies to build a global AI governance team. This team, known as the "Global AI Governance CoE," comprises members from various domains including legal, intellectual property, risk management, IT, and information security at both headquarters and group companies. It drives the development and implementation of a group-wide AI risk management framework and promotes knowledge sharing.
2. Establishing Policies and Rules
We are promoting the establishment of policies, guidelines, and rules that serve as the foundation for implementing AI governance.
As an IT service provider deploying AI globally, we have adopted the "NTT Group AI Charter" as our public policy statement on AI. This charter consists of six fundamental principles that the NTT Group and its employees are expected to uphold and embody, in order to foster trust in AI and promote its integration into society. These principles include "Enabling Sustainable Development," "Human Autonomy," "Privacy," among others.
Furthermore, to establish an AI governance framework across the entire group, we have formulated an "AI Risk Management Policy" that defines the AI risks requiring global management and the corresponding management framework. To implement risk management in line with this policy, we have developed internal guidelines. These guidelines outline specific and effective management rules for AI in general, along with considerations and response policies tailored to the three perspectives of development, provision, and use specifically for generative AI. We apply these guidelines in the development and provision of services and systems for our clients.
3. Consultation
Addressing AI risks requires expertise across a wide range of fields, including technology, legal, intellectual property, and information security. We provide support to both internal departments and group companies, conducting risk assessments for individual projects, formulating risk mitigation strategies, and assisting with the establishment of AI governance frameworks tailored to each group company.
4. External Collaboration Activities (Industry-Government-Academia)
To enhance NTT DATA's AI governance activities, we actively pursue collaborations with external stakeholders both globally and locally. These collaborations enable us to acquire the latest insights on AI and understand national and industry trends.
5. Advisory Board
Given the rapid evolution of AI technology and its significant societal impact, NTT DATA has established an Advisory Board composed of external experts to discuss the framework of its AI governance and risk mitigation strategies for individual projects.
NTT DATA's AI Advisory Board is a global organization composed of experts from universities and research institutions specializing in various fields such as social design, software engineering, legal and ethical matters, resilience, and SDGs. Experts and NTT DATA members discuss the latest technological trends, laws and regulations, and public perception regarding AI utilization. The insights gained are incorporated into internal guidelines and contribute to the continuous enhancement of our AI governance.
6. Employee Training
To ensure reliable detection and handling of AI risks, we recognize the importance of enhancing employee literacy regarding AI risks. We have created educational content related to AI risk management and the AI development process and are promoting training for employees. This educational content focuses on enabling individual employees to understand AI risks and appropriately address AI risks. It explains, with concrete examples, the AI risks that must be addressed and their countermeasures when planning, developing, and providing AI services to clients. It also highlights role-specific AI risks and countermeasures for functions such as sales and back-office operations.