Our Approach to Artificial Intelligence: Built on Trust

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to play a growing role in our lives. It helps us find the quickest way home, recommends music and TV programs, and powers voice assistants. AI is driving useful functionality in education technology. As AI continues to evolve, it has the potential to unlock transformative innovation in education that will benefit Class customers.

Every new and powerful technology comes with risk. This is true for AI as well. Harmful bias, inaccurate output, lack of transparency and accountability, and AI not fully aligned with human values are just some of the risks that need to be managed to allow for the safe and responsible use of AI. At Class, we understand that we are responsible for managing these risks and for helping our customers manage the risks.

Class’s approach to AI

The lawful, ethical, and responsible use of AI is a key priority for Class. While sophisticated generative AI tools have brought more focus on AI risks, these risks are not new.  In 2023 we established a cross-functional and diverse working group (the Class AI Task Force) to develop and implement a dedicated Trust Centered AI program. Also, in 2023 we formally implemented the program (see below), led by our Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Information Technology Officer working closely with our Chief Product and Chief Technology Officers.

Our AI program is aligned with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and the EU AI Act. Our program builds on and integrates with our SOC2-certified privacy and security risk management programs and processes. AI will continue to evolve rapidly, and at Class, we are committed to the continuous enhancement of our AI program. This will ensure we and our customers can use Class AI-powered product features safely and responsibly.

Our AI principles

As part of our Trust Centered AI program, we are implementing the following principles. These principles are based on and aligned with the principles of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, the EU AI Strategy, and the OECD AI Principles. The principles apply to both our internal use of AI as well as to AI functionalities we are developing in products we will provide to our clients.

• Fairness: Minimizing harmful bias in AI systems.
• Reliability: Taking measures to ensure the output of AI systems is valid and reliable.
• Humans in Control: Ensuring humans ultimately make decisions that have a legal or otherwise significant impact.
• Transparency and Explainability: Explaining to users when AI systems are used, how the AI systems work, and helping users appropriately use the output of AI systems.
• Privacy, Security, and Safety: AI systems should be secure, safe, and privacy-compliant.
• Value alignment: AI systems should be aligned with human values.
• Accountability: Ensuring there is clear accountability regarding the trustworthy use of AI systems within Class. We map our AI use cases and tailor our governance program accordingly.

The AI program at Class

• Governance: A cross-functional working group oversees the program. We leverage our existing GDPR, DPF, SOC2-certified data privacy, and security risk management protocols.
• Training and awareness: Our employees will undergo annual ethical AI training and will receive regular communications to raise employee awareness.
• Inventory of AI systems: We established inventories to track and manage the use of AI systems in our corporate infrastructure and our products.
• Product requirements and reviews: We are formalizing our product requirements and review approach, conducting data privacy impact assessments, and leveraging our documented data privacy and security processes.

If you have any questions regarding our AI program, please contact us at privacy@class.com.