2024: Polarion vs. Responsible AI

In the swiftly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the imminent implementation of regulatory frameworks, notably the European Union’s pioneering Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), is set to redefine the operational paradigms for AI tools and platforms. Among the myriad of solutions navigating this transformative era is Siemens’ comprehensive suite of tools, including Polarion ALM.

As the fabric of AI legislation intertwines with technological innovation, Siemens is committed to not just adhering to these emerging regulations but also to positioning Polarion at the forefront of Responsible AI Qualification.

This commitment is underpinned by Polarion’s robust capabilities in providing historical, and auditable traceability. This pivotal feature meticulously bridges the gap between legal mandates and the tangible realms of implemented solutions, ensuring that every algorithmic decision and trained AI behavior, is not just compliant but also traceable, testable, and transparent.

As we delve into this blog post and explain the main ideas of the AI Act, we will later explore how Polarion is not merely adapting to the new regulatory climate but is set to become an instrumental ally in championing the ethos of Responsible AI, ensuring that innovation and compliance stride forward, hand in hand.

Artificial Intelligence Act

The Council presidency and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the AI Act, establishing the world’s first set of regulations for AI. This groundbreaking proposal ensures that AI systems in the EU market are safe, uphold fundamental rights, and align with EU values while supporting investment and innovation in the sector.

The agreement has been hailed as a historical achievement that balances innovation with citizens’ rights. The AI Act is designed to regulate AI based on its potential harm to society, adopting a risk-based approach, while fostering safe, trustworthy, and responsible AI. This approach could set a global standard for AI regulation, similar to the EU’s GDPR for data protection.

The Act classifies AI Systems into various categories based on induced risk for society and its users. Certain AI practices are considered unacceptable risks and are therefore prohibited, such as cognitive behavioral manipulation, untargeted scraping of facial images, emotion recognition in workplace/educational institutions, social scoring, biometric categorization to infer sensitive data, and some cases of predictive policing. Modifications fueled by discussions with experts were made to the AI Act to foster innovation, including the introduction of AI regulatory sandboxes and provisions for real-world testing of AI systems.

The AI Act will apply two years after it enters into force, with certain exceptions. The final text will undergo legal-linguistic revision before formal adoption by the co-legislators. The AI Act is a significant part of the EU’s strategy to promote the development of AI that is safe, lawful, respects fundamental rights, and is responsible. The Act also comes with enforcements and penalties, which are based on a percentage of the company’s global annual turnover or a fixed amount, with caps for SMEs and startups.

Responsible AI with Polarion

In the intricate tapestry of AI development, where precision, compliance, and innovation intersect, Siemens Polarion emerges as an indispensable orchestrator. Its unique feature set positions it not just as a tool but as a strategic partner in managing the lifecycle of any AI model, especially those designated as high-risk or high-impact foundation models.

With Polarion’s robust Requirement Management capabilities, navigating the complex maze of legalities becomes a streamlined process. Legislation can be deconstructed into a coherent set of Legal Requirements, transforming each actionable section into a distinct, traceable asset.

But Polarion’s prowess doesn’t halt at Requirement Management. Its Test Management feature is a testament to the platform’s commitment to thoroughness and quality. It empowers developers to design and execute tests meticulously, ensuring that every actionable Test Requirement that covers Legal Requirements doesn’t just exist but is rigorously validated. Polarion openness and the ability to seamlessly integrate with MLOps toolchains allows it to provide full Test Result evidence traceability in the context of Legal Requirements including those driving Responsible AI.

The elegance of Polarion lies in its Linking capability, a feature that weaves a seamless thread between the original legislative documents, Legal Requirements, Testing Requirements, and any necessary Evidence. This interconnected web ensures that nothing is overlooked, fostering an environment where compliance is not an afterthought but a fundamental, integral component of the development lifecycle.

Traceability is the cornerstone of accountability and transparency in AI system development. Polarion’s Traceability and reporting features are not just tools but gatekeepers of integrity, ensuring that all data types are meticulously documented and easily accessible. With just a few clicks, creating a page that illustrates the structure in a table view is effortlessly achievable. For those who delve deeper, detailed reports shed light on any gaps, offering insights that drive continuous improvement.

Finally, the Commit Traceability and Resource Traceability features of Polarion transcend conventional boundaries. They bridge the gap between Requirements and the actual training datasets, ensuring that the datasets are testaments to a commitment to excellence, completeness, fairness, and responsibility. In the realm of AI, where the stakes are high and the potential even higher, Polarion stands as a beacon of trust, guiding projects from conception to realization with unmatched precision and integrity.

Proof your AI responsibility with Polarion

Siemens stands at the forefront of making the global industry toolchains sustainable, safe, and responsible. Polarion’s comprehensive functionality for regulated industries allows Siemens customers to leap ahead on immersive unbounded frontiers of Artificial Intelligence while staying safe concerning building Trustful and Responsible AI solutions, which could be proved in the context of newly emerging regulations such as the EU AI Act.

Consult your Siemens representative to learn more about how Siemens and Polarion can help your organization with building and delivering Responsible AI solutions to your customers.