The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has partnered with Convertible AI, an AI studio that creates models for various enterprises, to explore how to develop AI accreditation criteria specifically for automotive diagnosis and repair.
“The demand for highly trained technicians has continued to rise as vehicles have consistently become more technologically complex,” said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. “Likewise, tools to diagnose and repair vehicles have also become more technologically advanced. These tools require a technician to be well-trained and knowledgeable while increasing efficiency.”
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The collaboration will examine how to establish industry-wide standards for automotive AI applications so that they align with ASE’s standards for safety, reliability, and performance. This will entail focusing on three main areas:
- Assessing AI performance and fairness, including evaluating platforms’ accuracy, bias mitigation, and consistent based on various diagnostic challenges and vehicle types, including different makes, models, and vehicle years.
- Examining AI’s transparency and accountability, including a program’s explainability, observability, and auditability when making diagnostic recommendations. The collaboration will also look to demystify AI’s decision-making process for techs, including developing ways to track and verify AI-generated diagnoses.
- Defining ethical guidelines and best practices for AI implementation. This will include covering privacy protection and data governance to align with industry standards, as well as when it’s ethical to use AI in vehicle service so as to comply with regulations.
"As we move into a future where AI tools could become as integral to a technician's toolbox as traditional diagnostic equipment, it's crucial that we, along with industry professionals, explore rigorous benchmarks for their use,” Johnson concluded.
