The AI Standards Circus: Why ISO 21520 Might Actually Matter (Despite My Better Judgement)

I have a confession: I've spent the better part of my career rolling my eyes at standards announcements. You know the drill - another committee, another acronym, another 24-month timeline that promises to "revolutionise" whatever industry is willing to pay attention. So when I spotted this LinkedIn post about ISO/TC 258's latest venture, my initial reaction was predictably cynical.

"Great," I thought, "another group of well-meaning experts solving yesterday's problems whilst tomorrow's chaos unfolds around them."

But then something peculiar happened. I actually read the bloody thing. And the official ISO announcement that followed.

Why This Caught My Attention (And Why It Should Catch Yours)

Here's the uncomfortable reality we've all been tiptoeing around: AI isn't some distant technological promise lurking on the horizon. It's already embedded in our project management tools, quietly making decisions about our schedules, resources, and risks. The question isn't whether AI will transform our profession - it's whether we'll be prepared when it inevitably does.

What makes ISO 21520 different from the usual standards theatre is their refreshingly honest approach. They're not selling us utopian dreams of AI-powered project nirvana. Instead, they're acknowledging what most of us already know: this technology brings both tremendous opportunities and genuine risks.

Finally, a standards body that understands nuance. Who'd have thought?

My Unexpected Journey with AI Standards Cynicism

Two months ago, if you'd told me I'd be writing enthusiastically about an ISO working group, I'd have questioned your sanity. I've been that person rolling their eyes at corporate buzzword bingo, dismissing anything that smelled remotely of committee-driven innovation.

But here's what I've discovered through my own exploration of AI in project management: sometimes the most transformative insights come from the places we least expect them.

What changed my perspective?

• Lesson 1: The standards bodies I'd been dismissing were actually wrestling with problems I face daily. Every professionakl worth their salt has been quietly grappling with AI integration, often without proper frameworks or guidance.

• Lesson 2: My cynicism, whilst protective, was also limiting my ability to see genuine progress. The naysayers who ask "Why should we trust another committee?" were missing the transformative potential of thoughtful standardisation.

Let me break down what makes this initiative different from the usual corporate theatre:

• Honest Assessment - They're acknowledging both benefits and risks upfront

• Practical Focus - Guidance for organisations of all sizes, not just enterprise giants

• Ethical Framework - Finally addressing the human impact of AI implementation

• Real Timeline - 24 months with actual deliverables, not endless consultation phases

The Four Pillars (That Might Not Be Complete Bollocks)

The proposed standard tackles four areas that actually matter:

• Defining Key AI Concepts - Because half our industry is still throwing around "artificial intelligence" and "machine learning" like they're interchangeable party tricks.

• Benefits, Risks, and Governance - The grown-up conversation we should have been having years ago, instead of breathlessly announcing that chatbots will solve all our stakeholder communication problems.

• Ethical AI Implementation - Perhaps the most crucial bit. We're not just talking about efficiency gains; we're discussing how to harness these tools without accidentally creating algorithmic disasters.

• Universal Application - Not just another enterprise-focused standard that ignores the realities of smaller teams scraping by on spreadsheets and good intentions.

The Implications That Keep Me Awake

For Project Managers: Evolution or Extinction?

Let's address the elephant in the room: will AI replace project managers? The short answer is no, but the longer answer is more complicated.

AI won't replace project managers, but project managers who understand AI will absolutely replace those who don't. This standard could provide the roadmap that separates the adaptive from the obsolete.

I've watched colleagues panic about automation whilst simultaneously spending hours on manual data entry that could be automated in minutes. The irony is palpable, and frankly, a bit embarrassing for our profession.

For Organisations: The Governance Minefield

Every organisation I've worked with recently asks the same question: "How do we implement AI without creating chaos?" ISO 21520 might actually provide proper guidance instead of the usual consultant waffle about "digital transformation journeys" that somehow always require more billable hours.

The governance implications are enormous. We're talking about systems that could influence resource allocation, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making. Get it wrong, and you're not just dealing with project failure - you're dealing with algorithmic bias, data privacy breaches, and stakeholder trust issues that could haunt you for years.

For the Profession: A Credibility Test

Project management has always struggled with perception. We're either seen as bureaucratic box-tickers or miracle workers expected to deliver impossible timelines with inadequate resources. Rarely are we viewed as strategic professionals deserving a seat at the executive table.

A well-crafted AI standard could change that narrative - or it could reinforce every stereotype about our profession being behind the technological curve. The stakes are higher than we might realise.

The Questions Nobody's Asking

Of course, I wouldn't be me without raising some awkward points:

• Will 24 months be fast enough? AI development moves at Silicon Valley speed, whilst standards development moves at... well, committee speed. By the time ISO 21520 is published, will it be addressing problems that are already obsolete?

• Who's actually at the table? Standards are only as good as the voices involved in creating them. Are we getting diverse perspectives, or just the usual suspects from established consultancies who've never actually managed a project under budget pressure?

• Integration chaos? We already have PMI, PRINCE2, Agile methodologies, and countless other approaches. Will ISO 21520 complement these, or add another layer of complexity to an already fragmented landscape that confuses more than it clarifies?

The Brutal Career Reality Check

Here's my unsolicited advice: start paying attention now. Don't wait for the standard to be published in 2027 to begin understanding how AI impacts your work.

I've seen brilliant project managers become irrelevant not because they lacked skills, but because they refused to engage with changing tools and methods. The project managers who thrive in the next decade will be those who view AI as a powerful collaborator rather than a threatening replacement.

This isn't about jumping on every technological bandwagon - it's about thoughtful engagement with tools that are already reshaping our profession.

My Cautiously Optimistic Take (And An Invitation)

Despite my natural cynicism about standards initiatives, I'm guardedly hopeful about this one. The timing feels right, the scope seems realistic, and the leadership appears committed to practical outcomes rather than academic exercises that look impressive on CVs but gather dust in reality.

Will ISO 21520 single-handedly transform project management? Absolutely not. Standards don't transform professions - practitioners do. But it might provide the framework that helps organisations navigate the AI revolution without losing their humanity in the process.

I'm sharing these reflections not as a victory lap for my changed perspective, but as an invitation. Too many talented project managers are holding back, paralysed by uncertainty about AI integration and fear of making the wrong technological bets.

The conversation about our profession's future is happening with or without us. We might as well have a voice in it, even if that voice occasionally sounds sceptical.

The first meeting of ISO/TC 258/WG 17 PPPM-AI is scheduled for 1 July 2025. If your organisation wants to contribute to shaping this standard, contact your national ISO member body.

Just don't expect miracles - expect hard work, difficult conversations, and hopefully, something genuinely useful at the end.

Sometimes the most transformative insights come from the places we least expect them - even standards committees. Who knew?