Invest in AI research and development
Public investment in long-term, open AI research; cooperation with the private sector and academia; support for digital infrastructure and data assets.
Framework
OECD AI Principles
The OECD AI Principles, adopted in 2019 and updated in 2024, are the first intergovernmental standard on artificial intelligence. Endorsed by 47 countries including all OECD members and key partners. The Principles became the foundation of the G20 AI Principles and informed national AI strategies and regulations worldwide.
What the OECD Principles are
The first global AI standard
When the OECD Council adopted the Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence in May 2019, it became the first intergovernmental AI standard. The Recommendation has been endorsed by all 38 OECD member states and a further nine partner countries — including Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Malta, Peru, Romania, Singapore, Tunisia, and Ukraine. The G20 adopted compatible principles at the Osaka summit in June 2019.
The Principles set out five values-based principles for the responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI and five recommendations to policymakers on national policies and international cooperation. They are deliberately framed at a high level to remain applicable across jurisdictions and technologies.
In May 2024, the OECD Council updated the Principles to reflect developments in generative AI, the emergence of general-purpose models, and the increasing complexity of AI value chains. The update sharpens language on accountability, transparency, and safety, and explicitly addresses GPAI lifecycle risks.
For AIPIA members, the OECD Principles function as the broadest common denominator across the international AI ethics landscape. Where the EU AI Act and the Council of Europe Convention are European in origin, the OECD Principles carry buy-in from the US, Japan, Korea, Australia, and broader OECD membership, making them a useful reference for cross-border professional practice.
The five principles
Values-based stewardship of trustworthy AI
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1
Inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being
AI should benefit people and the planet, drive inclusive growth, reduce inequality, and support sustainable development. The Principles foreground the social and environmental purpose of AI, not only its economic potential.
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2
Respect for the rule of law, human rights and democratic values
AI systems should respect human rights, democratic values, diversity, and the rule of law. Safeguards — including human determination where appropriate — ensure AI operates within ethical and legal boundaries.
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3
Transparency and explainability
AI actors should commit to transparency and responsible disclosure. Affected persons should be able to understand how AI systems affect them and challenge outcomes when warranted.
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4
Robustness, security and safety
AI systems should function appropriately and not pose unreasonable safety risks. AI actors apply systematic risk management throughout the AI lifecycle, including security against adversarial use.
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5
Accountability
AI actors should be accountable for the proper functioning of AI systems and respect for the Principles, based on their roles, the context, and the state of the art.
Recommendations to governments
Five national-policy recommendations
Beyond the values-based principles, the Recommendation directs signatory governments toward five complementary policy actions.
Foster a digital ecosystem
Encourage interoperability, data sharing under appropriate safeguards, and the development of mechanisms for trusted data exchange.
Shape an enabling policy environment
Regulatory and policy frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting rights. Agile governance, controlled experimentation, regulatory sandboxes.
Build human capacity
Education and training to equip the workforce for an AI-augmented economy. Support workers transitioning out of automated roles. Lifelong learning for all.
Cooperate internationally
Multilateral cooperation on AI standards, governance, and capacity building. Knowledge sharing, indicator development, and joint research initiatives.
In practice
How AIPIA applies the OECD Principles
The OECD Principles are embedded in AIPIA's Code of Ethics alongside the Rome Call, the UNESCO Recommendation, and the Council of Europe Framework Convention. The five values map directly onto AIPIA's six binding professional principles: competence, transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy, and societal benefit.
AIPIA's training curriculum explicitly references OECD policy work — the AI Incident Monitor (AIM), the AI Index, the catalogue of trustworthy AI tools, and the country-by-country policy observatory at oecd.ai. Members working in cross-border consulting frequently cite OECD alignment when engaging with policymakers outside the EU.
For organisations preparing AI governance frameworks that need to satisfy regulators across multiple jurisdictions, mapping policies to the OECD Principles is often the most efficient starting point.
Build AI on internationally recognised foundations
AIPIA training and credentials align with OECD AI Principles. Members operating across borders gain a coherent professional standard recognised by 47 countries.