PwC Australia to provide independent assurance for artificial intelligence systems

Assurance for AI will empower businesses with trust and confidence in the age of intelligent automation

PwC Australia has launched Assurance for AI, a new service to provide independent assurance and other related services over artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This function will help businesses meet a growing need over their AI – providing confidence that it’s designed, deployed, and operated responsibly, transparently, and, in a growing number of situations, aligned with regulatory expectations.

According to a Tech Council of Australia report, over 84 per cent of knowledge workers are already using GenAI in their day-to-day work¹. In addition, PwC’s Value in Motion research found that trusted AI has the potential to boost economic output in the Asia Pacific region by 14.7 per cent over the next decade – on par with growth rates last seen during the industrial revolution. 

To help businesses meet this growing demand, PwC is expanding its responsible AI capabilities to provide an Assurance for AI service. Sue Horlin, PwC Australia’s Assurance Leader, said this is increasingly important, particularly in an environment where regulatory and compliance requirements are rapidly evolving. 

To meet the needs of the evolving risk, regulatory and business landscape, PwC’s AI assurance services will be delivered by multidisciplinary teams that combine deep technical knowledge of AI and machine learning with proven expertise in risk management, internal controls, audit and assurance services and external standards. These services help organisations to:

• Gain independent perspective on the integrity, robustness and fairness of their AI systems;
• Assess governance frameworks and control environments;
• Evaluate data sourcing and related management practices to address risks of bias, drift and other risks;
• Assess the design and effectiveness of their own monitoring and testing procedures;
• Provide users with tested insights to support outcome explainability and interpretability; and
• Receive insights into how company procedures compare to leading practices and emerging standards and regulations.

Trust through independent, objective assurance

For decades, PwC has been trusted to provide confidence—beyond the numbers—in the systems and technologies that underpin capital markets, the controls that safeguard digital systems and the processes that drive confidence in business outcomes.

Now, we continue to extend that role and responsibility into AI. Our independent assurance and other related services help organisations offer stakeholders a clear, evidence-based view of how their AI systems operate and how the organisation is addressing related risks. Whether it’s preparing for new regulatory requirements, managing third-party exposure, upholding corporate values or having trusted, decision-useful information, our clients gain a competitive edge by demonstrating that their AI is responsible and worthy of trust.

Setting the standard for responsible AI

PwC has long played a leading and instrumental role in shaping practical solutions for the responsible use of AI. From contributing to standard-setting initiatives to developing proprietary frameworks and tools, we have helped define the standard for AI governance. Our work emphasises pragmatism—helping clients as they navigate complex technical and ethical questions in ways that are actionable, measurable and aligned to business goals.

With Assurance for AI, PwC continues to stand ready to help clients achieve that confidence. Whether you’re building AI in-house or sourcing it from vendors, we provide an independent perspective, and the rigorous assessment that helps to move forward with trust, clarity and credibility.