RICS shines its spotlight on the use of AI: have your say

Another week, another consultation deadline for a proposed RICS standard. As foreshadowed in our previous blog, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is currently seeking feedback on its proposed Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence, 1^st Edition standard (Proposed Standard).

As the name suggests, this is the first edition of a standalone RICS standard which, once implemented, will cover the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the provision of surveying services. The development of a standalone standard addressing the use of AI recognises the increasing prevalence of AI in professional environments and the world more broadly. Ultimately, the Proposed Standard seeks to facilitate the use of AI by RICS-regulated firms and members, albeit in a responsible, transparent and ethical manner.

This consultation window is due to close at midnight tomorrow (Tuesday, 29 April 2025). A copy of the Proposed Standard, and feedback can be accessed, online.

Human input and oversight will remain

Whilst AI has impressive compatibilities, the Proposed Standard makes it clear that RICS-regulated firms and members will not be permitted to use it on an unchecked basis when providing surveying services.

Rather, a level of human oversight over AI’s output will be mandated with the Proposed Standard including a requirement for regulated firms and members to ‘scrutinise the output of any AI system used that materially impacts, or has the potential to materially impact, the preparation and/or delivery of surveying services’. The Proposed Standard expressly states that such an assessment will require the application of one’s professional judgement, experience, skills and professional scepticism. 

The proposed requirements go further, in that regulated firms and members will also be required to keep written records of their decisions about the ‘reliability of the output’ of the adopted AI systems.

What is else is being proposed?

Ultimately the Proposed Standard covers conduct. This means that it focuses on how RICS regulated-firms and members conduct themselves when utilising AI, as opposed to the operational technicalities of AI platforms themselves.

The scope of the Proposed Standard is broad and includes requirements covering the procurement of AI systems, mandated knowledge requirements as well transparency with clients about the use of AI, and consistent monitoring of the risks posed by the use of AI. More specifically the Proposed Standard includes standards requiring RICS-regulated firms and members to:

• Obtain and maintain, ‘sufficient and appropriate knowledge to support the responsible use of AI systems in their surveying practice’. This knowledge will need to include:
  • an awareness of the types of AI that are being used by the practice;
  • an understanding of the limitations of the AI that is being utilised; and
  • an understanding of the ‘inherent risk of bias in AI systems due to errors and/or the algorithms used’;
• Consider the privacy and confidentiality risks that the use of AI introduces and/or increases, and a requirement to protect against such risks by taking specified steps;
• Restrict the use of AI in surveying work, to circumstances in which ‘it is the most appropriate tool for the particular task or process’. In order to determine the appropriateness, firms will be required to complete written assessments the preparation of which will need to involve consideration of factors set out in proposed standard 3.2; 
• Maintain a written register that includes specified details about ‘any AI system used by the firm that materially impacts, or has the potentially to materially impact, the preparation and/or delivery of surveying services’;
• Prepare policies that cover the firm’s procurement and use of AI;
• Identify risks that may arise when using the adopted AI systems, and to record these risks and the mitigation steps that have been identified. Proposed standard 3.3 sets out the requirements for these risk registers;
• Undertake ‘detailed due diligence before procuring an AI system from a third-party supplier for use in the preparation and/or delivery of surveying services’; and
• Ensure that clients are informed about the use of AI prior to these systems being used for their work.

Who will it apply to?

The Proposed Standard is expected to apply to RICS-regulated firms and members, in the United Kingdom and internationally. It will operate alongside other AI legislation and regulation across jurisdictions.

Further, it imposes requirements on members and firms, even if their use of AI ‘will have no potential to materially impact the preparation and/or delivery of surveying services.’ In such cases, the reaching of this conclusion will need to be recorded in writing.

What should you do now?

It is not clear when the Proposed Standard will be finalised and implemented – the period after which it will become effective is not confirmed in the current draft.

However, we know that AI development and implementation is currently on the agenda for many firms and it would be pertinent to consider the proposed requirements when making related decisions, and implementing AI processes and policies. This will ensure that current actions and decision-making is as informed and as effective as possible, and will ideally prevent the need for comprehensive changes following the commencement of this standard.

Finally, the ability to provide feedback on the Proposed Standard presents a good opportunity for regulated parties to constructively inform the development of a first edition RICS standard. We imagine that the use of AI will only increase in the surveying space and, in these circumstances, it will be important that the imposed standard works in practice and mitigates the necessary risks, whilst not being unnecessary burdensome on regulated parties.