ISO/IEC TR 21221:2025
(Main)Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Beneficial AI systems
Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Beneficial AI systems
This document describes the delivery of functional, economic, environmental, social, societal, cultural, intellectual and personal benefits by AI systems as perceived by their stakeholders. The document includes illustrative use cases of AI systems.
Titre manque
General Information
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
Technical
Report
ISO/IEC TR 21221
First edition
Information technology — Artificial
2025-09
intelligence — Beneficial AI systems
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conceptual framework of a beneficial AI system . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 AI system and its functions .3
4.3 The roles and perspectives of AI stakeholders .3
4.4 Trustworthiness .3
4.5 Timeliness of benefits evaluation .4
4.6 Purposeful and responsible application .4
4.7 Measuring value of AI systems .4
4.7.1 General .4
4.7.2 Benefit components of AI system value .4
4.7.3 AI systems and automation .5
4.7.4 Different stakeholder perspectives .5
4.8 Create positive impact .7
4.8.1 General .7
4.8.2 Positive vs. negative impacts .8
5 Applications of beneficial AI systems . 8
Annex A (informative) Beneficial AI system use cases .11
Annex B (informative) Modelling customer value .18
Annex C (informative) AI external stakeholders and relevant interested parties .20
Annex D (informative) AI system value and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals .22
Bibliography .23
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 42, Artificial intelligence.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
At present government, commercial and not-for-profit organizations are increasing their investment and
adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in systems and applications for business processes,
products and services. As with other innovations, the adoption of AI comes with risks potentially resulting
in negative impacts. In some cases, the legal requirements governing the use of the technology have already
been imposed to mitigate these risks. To prevent unjustified negative societal attitude towards the AI, there
is a need to clearly articulate the benefits of AI for all the stakeholders, comparing the benefits with relevant
costs and risks. This can foster transparency and trustworthiness of AI, ensuring better governance, trust,
understanding and appreciation of the value of the AI technology.
This document describes a conceptual framework for the articulation of benefits of AI as one of the non-
functional characteristics of AI systems. This framework incorporates the make, use and impact perspectives
of the stakeholders. It can help to initiate meaningful discussion among the stakeholders and to formulate
appropriate business models and value propositions along the AI value chain.
This document also shows how the United Nations Sustainable Goals (UN SDGs) can be incorporated into
the benefit components of AI system value (Annex D). Examples are provided to how an AI system with the
proper benefit components in its value proposition can potentially contribute to and help accelerate the UN
[1]
SDGs and lend support to the ISO’s London Declaration .
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
Technical Report ISO/IEC TR 21221:2025(en)
Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Beneficial
AI systems
1 Scope
This document describes the delivery of functional, economic, environmental, social, societal, cultural,
intellectual and personal benefits by AI systems as perceived by their stakeholders. The document includes
illustrative use cases of AI systems.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 5339:2024, Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Guidance for AI applications
ISO/IEC 22989:2022, Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Artificial intelligence concepts and
terminology
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 22989, ISO/IEC 5339 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
consumer
individual member of the general public purchasing or using goods, property or services for private purposes
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.16]
3.2
AI customer
organization or entity that uses an AI product or service either directly or by its provision to AI users
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, an AI customer has a business relationship with the AI provider that
provides platforms, products or services that uses AI systems (see ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 5.19.2).
3.3
AI user
organization or entity that uses AI products or services
Note 1 to entry: An AI user can be an individual from the general public (consumer) or a member of the customer
organization or entity. An AI user is not required to have a business relationship with the AI provider or AI customer.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
3.4
artificial intelligence system
AI system
engineered system that generates outputs such as content, forecasts, recommendations or decisions for a
given set of human-defined objectives.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 3.1.4, modified — Notes to entry deleted.]
3.5
community
group of people with an arrangement of responsibilities, activities and relationships
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, community members do not have to reside in the same geographical areas.
[SOURCE: ISO 37153:2024, 3.9, modified — Notes to entry replaced.]
3.6
value proposition
promise of measurable benefits resulting from the collaboration
[SOURCE: ISO 44001:2017, 3.30]
3.7
civil society
wide range of individuals, groups of people, networks, movements, associations and organizations that
manifest and advocate for the interests of their members and others
Note 1 to entry: It can be based on philanthropic, cultural, religious, environmental or political values and convictions.
Note 2 to entry: This definition excludes for-profit companies and businesses, academia and all government-dependent
entities.
Note 3 to entry: In the context of this document, society is used as a synonym to civil society.
[SOURCE: ISO/TR 22370:2020, 3.5, modified — Note 3 to entry added.]
3.8
relevant interested party
person or organization that can affect, be affected by or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, relevant interested parties are those stakeholders that are not inside
the context of an AI application.
3.9
cost-benefit analysis
decision aiding tool using a systematic evaluation of the positive effects (benefits) and negative effects
(disbenefits) of undertaking an action, integrating technical, time-schedule, management, financial, societal,
environmental issues
[SOURCE: ISO 18557:2017, 3.6]
3.10
sustainability
state of the global system, including environmental, social and economic aspects, in which the needs of the
present ar
...
FINAL DRAFT
Technical
Report
ISO/IEC DTR 21221
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42
Information technology – Artificial
Secretariat: ANSI
intelligence – Beneficial AI systems
Voting begins on:
2025-06-03
Voting terminates on:
2025-07-29
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en) © ISO/IEC 2025
FINAL DRAFT
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
Technical
Report
ISO/IEC DTR 21221
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42
Information technology – Artificial
Secretariat: ANSI
intelligence – Beneficial AI systems
Voting begins on:
Voting terminates on:
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO/IEC 2025
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en) © ISO/IEC 2025
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conceptual framework of a beneficial AI system . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 AI system and its functions .3
4.3 The roles and perspectives of AI stakeholders .3
4.4 Trustworthiness .3
4.5 Timeliness of benefits evaluation .4
4.6 Purposeful and responsible application .4
4.7 Measuring value of AI systems .4
4.7.1 General .4
4.7.2 Benefit components of AI system value .4
4.7.3 AI systems and automation .5
4.7.4 Different stakeholder perspectives .5
4.8 Create positive impact .7
4.8.1 General .7
4.8.2 Positive vs. negative impacts .8
5 Applications of beneficial AI systems . 8
5.1 General .8
Annex A (informative) Beneficial AI system use cases .11
Annex B (informative) Modelling customer value .18
Annex C (informative) AI external stakeholders and relevant interested parties .20
Annex D (informative) AI system value and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals .22
Bibliography .23
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 42, Artificial intelligence.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
Introduction
At present government, commercial and not-for-profit organizations are increasing their investment and
adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in systems and applications for business processes,
products and services. As with other innovations, the adoption of AI comes with risks potentially resulting
in negative impacts. In some cases, the legal requirements governing the use of the technology have already
been imposed to mitigate these risks. To prevent unjustified negative societal attitude towards the AI, there
is a need to clearly articulate the benefits of AI for all the stakeholders, comparing the benefits with relevant
costs and risks. This can foster transparency and trustworthiness of AI, ensuring better governance, trust,
understanding and appreciation of the value of the AI technology.
This document describes a conceptual framework for the articulation of benefits of AI as one of the non-
functional characteristics of AI systems. This framework incorporates the make, use and impact perspectives
of the stakeholders. It can help to initiate meaningful discussion among the stakeholders and to formulate
appropriate business models and value propositions along the AI value chain.
This document also shows how the United Nations Sustainable Goals (UN SDGs) can be incorporated into
the benefit components of AI system value (Annex D). Examples are provided to how an AI system with the
proper benefit components in its value proposition can potentially contribute to and help accelerate the UN
[1]
SDGs and lend support to the ISO’s London Declaration .
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
FINAL DRAFT Technical Report ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
Information technology – Artificial intelligence – Beneficial
AI systems
1 Scope
This document describes the delivery of functional, economic, environmental, social, societal, cultural,
intellectual and personal benefits by AI systems as perceived by their stakeholders. The document includes
illustrative use cases of AI systems.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 22989:2022, Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Artificial intelligence concepts and
terminology
ISO/IEC 5339:2024, Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Guidance for AI applications
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 22989, ISO/IEC 5339 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
consumer
individual member of the general public purchasing or using goods, property or services for private purposes
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.16]
3.2
AI customer
organization or entity that uses an AI product or service either directly or by its provision to AI users
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, an AI customer has a business relationship with the AI provider that
provides platforms, products or services that uses AI systems (see ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 5.19.2).
3.3
AI user
organization or entity that uses AI products or services
Note 1 to entry: An AI user can be an individual from the general public (consumer) or a member of the customer
organization or entity. An AI user is not required to have a business relationship with the AI provider or AI customer.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:2025(en)
3.4
artificial intelligence system
AI system
engineered system that generates outputs such as content, forecasts, recommendations or decisions for a
given set of human-defined objectives.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 3.1.4, modified — Notes to entry deleted.]
3.5
community
group of people with an arrangement of responsibilities, activities and relationships
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, community members do not have to
...
1 ISO/IEC WD TRDTR 21221: 202(X)
2 ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42/WG 4
3 Secretariat: ANSI
4 Date: 2025-05-20
5 Information technology —– Artificial intelligence —– Beneficial AI
6 systems
8 WDFDIS stage
10 Warning for WDs and CDs
11 This document is not an ISO International Standard. It is distributed for review and comment. It is
12 subject to change without notice and may not be referred to as an International Standard.
13 Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent
14 rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.
17 A model manuscript of a draft International Standard (known as “The Rice Model”) is available at
© ISO #### – All rights reserved
ISO #####-#:####(X)
2 © ISO #### – All rights reserved
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
© ISO/IEC 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.orgwww.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
Contents
Foreword . v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conceptual framework of a beneficial AI system . 3
5 Applications of beneficial AI systems . 9
Annex A (informative) Beneficial AI system use cases . 12
Annex B (informative) Modelling customer value . 21
Annex C (informative) AI external stakeholders and relevant interested parties . 24
Annex D (informative) AI system value and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals . 27
Bibliography . 29
This template allows you to work with default MS Word functions and styles. You can use these if you want to
maintain the Table of Contents automatically and apply auto-numbering.
To update the Table of Contents please select it and press "F9".
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide federation of national standardsstandardization.
National bodies (that are members of ISO member bodies). The workor IEC participate in the development of
preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member
body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be
represented on that committee. Internationalby the respective organization to deal with particular fields of
technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO documentsdocument should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules
of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
Attention is drawnISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that some of the elementsimplementation of
this document may beinvolve the subjectuse of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the
evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication
of this document, ISO and IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement
this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information,
which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch
rights. ISO. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any
patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO
list of patent declarations received (see ).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),) see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 42, Artificial intelligence.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and www.iec.ch/national-
committees.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
Introduction
At present government, commercial and not-for-profit organizations are increasing their investment and
adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in systems and applications for business processes, products
and services. As with other innovationinnovations, the adoption of AI comes with risks potentially resulting
in negative impacts. In some cases, the legal requirements governing the use of the technology arehave already
been imposed in order to mitigate these risks. To prevent unjustified negative societal attitude towards the
AI, there is a need to clearly articulate the benefits of AI for all the stakeholders, comparing the benefits with
relevant costs and risks. This wouldcan foster transparency and trustworthiness of AI, ensureensuring better
governance, trust, understanding and appreciation of the value of the AI technology.
This document describes a conceptual framework for the articulation of benefits of AI (4) as one of the non-
functional characteristics of AI systems. This framework incorporates the make, use and impact perspectives
of the stakeholders. It can help to initiate meaningful discussion among the stakeholders and to formulate
appropriate business models and value propositions along the AI value chain.
This document also shows how the United Nations Sustainable Goals (UN SDGs) can be incorporated into the
benefit components of AI system value (Annex D(Annex D).). Examples are provided to how an AI system with
the proper benefit components in its value proposition can potentially contribute to and help accelerate the
[1 ]
UN SDGs and lend support to the ISO’s London Declaration . .
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
vi
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
Information technology —– Artificial intelligence —– Beneficial AI
systems
1 Scope
This document describes the delivery of functional, economic, environmental, social, societal, cultural,
intellectual and personal benefits by AI systems as perceived by their stakeholders. The document includes
illustrative use cases of AI systems.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 22989:2022, Information technology — Artificial intelligence — Artificial intelligence concepts and
terminology
ISO/IEC 5339:2024, Information technology — Artificial Intelligenceintelligence — Guidance for AI applications
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 22989:2022, ISO/IEC
5339:2024 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.23.1 3.1
consumer
individual member of the general public purchasing or using goods, property or services for private purposes
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.16]]
3.33.2 3.2
AI customer
organization or entity that uses an AI product or service either directly or by its provision to AI users
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, an AI customer has a business relationship with the AI provider that
provides platforms, products or services that uses AI systems (see ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 5.19.2).
3.43.3 3.3
AI user
organization or entity that uses AI products or services
Note 1 to entry: An AI user can be an individual from the general public (consumer) or a member of the customer
organization or entity. An AI user is not required to have a business relationship with the AI provider or AI customer.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
3.4
3.4
artificial intelligence system
AI system
An AI system is an engineered system that generates outputs such as content, forecasts, recommendations or
decisions for a given set of human-defined objectives.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 22989:2022, 3.14]1.4, modified — Notes to entry deleted.]
3.73.5 3.5
community
group of people with an arrangement of responsibilities, activities and relationships
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, community members do not have to reside in the same geographical
areas.
[SOURCE: ISO 37153:20172024, 3.9,, modified — Note 1Notes to entry deleted]replaced.]
3.83.6 3.6
value proposition
promise of measurable benefits resulting from the collaboration
[SOURCE: ISO 44001:2017, 3.30]]
3.93.7 3.7
civil society
wide range of individuals, groups of people, networks, movements, associations and organizations that
manifest and advocate for the interests of their members and others
Note 1 to entry: It can be based on philanthropic, cultural, religious, environmental or political values and convictions.
Note 2 to entry: This definition excludes for-profit companies and businesses, academia and all government-dependent
entities.
Note 3 to entry: In the context of this document, society is used as a synonym to civil society.
[SOURCE: ISO/TR 22370:2020, 3.5]
, modified — Note 3.8 to entry added.]
3.103.8
relevant interested party
person or organization that can affect, be affected by or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity
Note 1 to entry: In the context of this document, relevant interested parties are those stakeholders that are not inside the
context of an AI application.
3.113.9 3.9
cost-benefit analysis
decision aiding tool using a systematic evaluation of the positive effects (benefits) and negative effects
(disbenefits) of undertaking an action, integrating technical, time-schedule, management, financial, societal,
environmental issues
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ISO/IEC DTR 21221:(en)
[SOURCE: ISO 18557:2017, 3.6]]
3.123.10 3.10
sustainability
state of the global system, including environmental, social and economic aspects, in which the needs of the
present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Note 1 to entry: The environmental, social and economic aspects interact, are interdependent and are often referred to
as the three dimensions of sustainability.
[SOURCE: ISO Guide 82:2019, 3.1,, modified— Note 2 to entry deleted].]
4 Conceptual framework of a beneficial AI system
D.1A.1 General
4.24.1 General
The conceptual framework of a beneficial AI system is based on the premise that: An an AI system (3.4) is
perceived as beneficial when it functions as designed per its requirements, is trustworthy and is purposefully
and responsibly applied to create sustainable net positive value and impact for its stakeholders.
The attributes of this conceptual framework are defined in this clause. The benefit components of AI system
use are discussed in 4.7.24.7.2. The role AI systems play in automation is discussed in 4.7.34.7.3. The different
stakeholder perspectives are discussed in 4.7.44.7.4 with a more detailed model in Annex CAnnex C. The
creation of AI system value is illustrated with multiple steps in Figure 1Figure 1. The step involving a cost-
benefit analysis as performed by an AI customer is introduced in 4.7.4.54.7.3.5 together with a more detailed
model with sample business models and value propositions in Annex BAnnex B. Taken together, these
subclauses illustrate how the conceptual framework of a
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.