Keysight and York University Join Forces to Tackle AI Safety Standards for Software-Defined Vehicles

Keysight Technologies and York University have announced a new collaboration aimed at advancing safety standards for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Their work will focus on ISO/PAS 8800, which addresses the safety of AI systems in road vehicles. The partnership seeks to bridge what experts call the “AI safety evidence gap” — the lack of robust proof that AI-driven vehicle functions are safe for real-world use.

As automakers increasingly rely on AI for everything from advanced driver assistance to autonomous driving, the absence of clear safety evidence has become a major bottleneck. Without standardized ways to validate AI behavior, regulators and manufacturers struggle to approve and deploy these technologies at scale. Keysight brings expertise in test and measurement, while York University contributes research on AI safety and verification. Together, they aim to develop methods that generate reliable safety evidence, potentially shaping how ISO/PAS 8800 is applied.

This initiative comes at a critical time, as the automotive industry pushes toward more connected and automated vehicles. The collaboration could help establish best practices for AI safety that benefit the entire sector, from suppliers to OEMs. By targeting an international standard, the two organizations hope to create a framework that ensures AI in vehicles is not only innovative but also trustworthy.