IMDA and Enterprise Singapore push world’s first ISO proposal to benchmark and red team GenAI.

Singapore is spearheading a new global standard for testing generative AI systems, aiming to make safety checks reproducible, comparable and trusted as adoption accelerates worldwide.

New International GenAI Standard
The Infocomm Media Development Authority and Enterprise Singapore have jointly proposed ISO IEC 42119 8, a first of its kind international standard to harmonise how generative AI systems are tested, with a focus on benchmarking and red teaming under common, transparent methodologies.

ISO IEC Plenary In Singapore
The proposal will be discussed from April 20 to 24 at a plenary meeting of the International Organisation for Standardisation and International Electrotechnical Commission, co organised by IMDA and Enterprise Singapore and hosted in Southeast Asia for the first time, drawing over 250 AI experts from more than 35 national bodies including China, France, Japan, Germany, the UK and US.

Quiet Infrastructure Of Standards
IMDA chief executive Ng Cher Pong described standards as the “quiet infrastructure” that underpins interoperability, consistency and trust at scale, arguing that AI standards help governments, labs, developers, academics, citizens and workers “speak the same language” and serve as a launchpad for safe, rapid AI deployment.

Keeping Pace, Inclusive And Tested
Ng outlined three priorities for AI standards: keeping pace with fast moving AI development and use, ensuring standards reflect diverse and inclusive perspectives, and giving more weight to testing and assurance so that AI behaviour is understood, checked and continuously improved.

Benchmarking, Red Teaming And Trust
The proposed ISO IEC 42119 8 framework aims to standardise benchmarking and red teaming approaches so that GenAI test results are reproducible and comparable across labs and products, boosting assurance for both developers and users and enabling safer, more reliable adoption in public and private sectors.

By driving the world’s first GenAI testing standard, Singapore is positioning itself at the centre of efforts to turn AI safety from aspiration into practice. Indonesians and Singaporeans stand to benefit from clearer benchmarks, greater transparency and stronger cross border cooperation, which can help ensure that powerful AI tools are built, evaluated and deployed with shared rules that protect users while supporting innovation.

Sources: Asia One (2026) , IMDA GOV SG (2026)

Keywords: Generative AI Testing, ISO IEC 42119 8, IMDA, Enterprise Singapore, AI Standards