Microsoft stated today at the HLTH Europe conference that, as the major technological enabler, it will assist in the expansion of the Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network (TRAIN) to Europe. TRAIN was first launched in the United States in March 2024 with the purpose of promoting responsible and ethical AI concepts, and eventually operationalizing the technology to serve communities in a safe, trustworthy, and ethical manner. The initial agreement’s signatories in the United States featured a diverse group of leading healthcare organizations of various sizes and footprints.

With the expansion of TRAIN to Europe, inventors hope that this effort will open new potential across the continent, especially as the global race to develop and launch AI technologies in a significant way continues. The initiative’s goals are obvious, and they have far-reaching implications for cooperating countries’ fervent efforts to develop in this field. These goals include enabling agreements to exchange best practices across member companies and registering AI systems and algorithms, as well as providing metrics and tools to standardize and measure AI system outcomes and promoting a national AI outcomes registry.

Overall, the program’s purpose is clear: to promote responsible AI use and eventually build a cohesive network where firms can exchange resources and flourish together.

Sarah Harmon, President of Foundation 29, a key member of TRAIN, explains that when it comes to the use of AI in healthcare, “while high-quality data, often sourced from patients, is essential for advancing AI technologies, it is equally crucial to guarantee responsible use of this data.” Finally, the goal should be “safeguarding patient data and fostering a trustworthy environment for AI development”—a crucial goal for TRAIN. Dr. Michel van Genderen, an attending physician at Erasmus Medical Center, adds that collaboration across borders and with companies will be critical in “transforming healthcare using AI.”

This is an increasing trend in the technology industry, particularly given the tremendous advances made in the field over the last year. Many organizations are working to build frameworks for ethical use of these tools, particularly as governments develop technology-specific legislation and restrictions. Another well-known framework or endeavor is the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI). With key partners such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, as well as esteemed healthcare organizations such as Stanford Medicine and Mass General Hospital, CHAI’s goal is to “develop ‘guidelines and guardrails’ to drive high-quality health care by promoting the adoption of credible, fair, and transparent health AI systems.”

What makes these coalitions and frameworks so important? The reality is that the field of artificial intelligence is evolving at such a rapid pace that traditional regulatory organizations are unable to keep up. Organizations that promote these frameworks aspire to guide the development and deployment of these technologies.

Guardrails and guidelines are critical in healthcare, particularly because many of these technologies may one day be deployed in clinical settings and patient-care contexts. Without a doubt, a careful approach to this technology is critical, considering how much the future of healthcare depends on it.