NTT Group's AI governance policies and mechanisms for promoting AI Governance
Establishment of Co-CAIO and AI Governance Office for the provision of AI that customers can use with confidence

Tokyo - June 07, 2024 - NTT Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Representative Member of the Board and President: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT") has newly established policies such as the NTT Group AI Charter as a fundamental policy for each NTT Group company to utilize AI, which is rapidly spreading in society. Based on these policies, the Group will work together on AI risk management, assign a Co-Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer ("Co-CAIO"), and establish an AI Governance Office to promote AI governance.

■ Background

Artificial intelligence ("AI") has rapidly spread throughout society through technological innovations such as deep learning, and countless AI systems are solving various problems daily without us being aware. On the other hand, there is a concern that the use of AI may lead to unintended discrimination and unjust restrictions and inducements of behavior. In addition, the behavior and impact of AI are largely unknown, raising both expectations and concerns, and the international community is looking to address AI risks and strengthen governance. To address this concern and promote AI's competitiveness and safety in an integrated manner, it is necessary to establish fundamental policies that the NTT Group, as a company involved in AI utilization and R&D, and its employees and engineers should always be aware of and keep in mind.

■ NTT Group's AI risk management

It is important for organizations within the Group that use AI in their operations to manage risks associated with the use of AI, such as legal violations, contract violations, and social and ethical criticism. For risk management, we adopt a risk-based approach that is widely adopted in the international community, including the Hiroshima AI Process.

Defining AI risk

The risks associated with the use of AI within the NTT Group, such as the risk of social criticism due to inappropriate use of AI and the risk of fines due to legal violations, are classified into prohibited level, high risk, and limited risk for each use case and standardized within the NTT Group.

AI risk assessment

Based on the AI risk definition above, the AI project manager and the AI risk management manager of the affiliated company conduct a risk assessment twice to ensure the accuracy of the assessment.

Addressing AI risk

AI projects rated as prohibited level will undergo a major overhaul of how AI is used. For evaluations other than the prohibited level, the AI risk management manager at each company follows up on project risk reduction, takes appropriate actions according to the risk, and promotes the project.

■ NTT Group's AI governance

AI governance policies

With reference to laws, regulations, and guidelines of the international community and the Japanese government, we have established AI governance policies to define and manage AI risks in a common manner throughout the NTT Group.

AI governance promotion system

NTT will assign Co-CAIO to ensure leadership in promoting the appropriate use of AI and addressing AI risks. We will also establish an AI Governance Office to assist Co-CAIO in developing and revising the NTT Group's AI governance policies and to monitor and evaluate AI risk management status at group companies. At each Group company, we will appoint an AI risk management manager to assess AI project risk and work on risk reduction. Co-CAIO, the AI Governance Office, and the AI risk management managers at each group company cooperate to promote appropriate AI risk management and AI governance in the NTT Group.

About NTT

NTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include digital business consulting, managed application services, workplace and cloud solutions, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $97B in revenue and 330,000 employees, with $3.6B in annual R&D investments. Our operations span across 80+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of other enterprise and government clients and millions of consumers.