RICS members and regulated firms which use artificial intelligence in a material way when delivering surveying services must adhere to the requirements of the RICS’ professional standard on the Responsible use of AI in surveying practice.
Client information requirements
Privacy and confidentiality:
As the use of AI systems gives rise to additional privacy and confidentiality risks, regulated firms using AI systems must prepare any data they intend to input into an AI system in a way that protects privacy, such as by anonymising the data.
If a regulated firm has private and confidential data from a client they must refrain from uploading that data to an AI system, unless they have express written consent in advance from the client and they have taken reasonable steps to be satisfied that uploading that data does not pose an unacceptable risk.
Reliability and potential risks:
Regulated firms must make a decision about the reliability of the output of any AI system used that will have a material impact on the delivery of surveying services. Firms must communicate to clients where it is decided that an AI output is not reliable enough to be used.
Client communication:
Transparency in the use of AI is crucial for maintaining the trust and confidence of clients. Members and regulated firms must therefore disclose certain key information about the use of AI in the delivery of their services in advance of using AI systems. The following detail must therefore be contained within the documents that govern the client relationship:
- when AI will be involved in the delivery of a surveying service
- the parts of the process for delivery of a surveying service in which AI will be involved
- if available, the extent of professional indemnity cover for use of AI systems by the firm
- the internal processes to contest the use of an AI system and
- the processes to seek redress if a client feels they have been negatively affected by the use of an AI system
- how a client can opt out of the use of AI systems in the delivery of a surveying service, if at all.
Clients are also entitled under the standard to have the following information provided to them on request, in order to better understand AI system use in relation to their instruction and potentially challenge outcomes, if necessary and appropriate:
- the type of AI system used
- the nature, basic ways of working and potential limitations of the algorithm used by the AI system
- an overview of the due diligence exercises carried out before using the AI system
- an overview of the way in which relevant risks associated with the use of the AI system are identified and addressed and
- the decisions made about the reliability of the output from the AI system.