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PwC UK has announced the launch of “Assurance for AI”, a suite of services which includes new formal independent assurance over relevant AI controls. The offering is described as complementary to, but distinct from, the firm’s existing advisory services. Assurance for AI will be delivered by multidisciplinary teams that combine technical knowledge of AI and expertise in audit, risk management, internal controls, attestation services, and external standards.
As both the enterprise-wide deployment of AI gathers pace and regulatory pressures on the domain increase, so a new ecosystem of assurance providers is emerging to validate, test, and certify these complex technologies. Unlike traditional software testing, AI systems require probabilistic rather than deterministic approaches, continuous monitoring for model drift, and sophisticated bias detection across protected attributes.
PwC is far from alone in identifying the significance of the opportunity which this segment represents. Its Big Four rivals have all developed offers to address this rapidly evolving space: Deloitte through its Algorithm Assurance Practice; EY via its AI Assurance Framework; and KPMG in the shape of its Trusted AI framework. The IT services heavyweights are also building on their traditional testing strengths to create capabilities designed to address the new needs created by AI systems. Examples of this include Infosys’s AI-First Testing platform. Wipro’s AssureNXT platform and TCS’s Smart Quality Engineering Platform.
In parallel, a new generation of pure-play AI assurance companies is emerging to address gaps left by traditional consulting approaches. These firms, such as Credo AI and Fiddler AI, offer purpose-built technology platforms specifically designed for AI governance, testing, and continuous monitoring, fundamentally changing how organisations approach AI validation.
The latest move by PwC is certainly timely and its provision for the first time of a formal independent assurance service ups the ante against its consulting competitors. It is unlikely that it will be too long before its rivals follow suit.
Posted by: Duncan Aitchison at 10:06
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