The UK's pathway to AI

As we continue to delve into the complex world of artificial intelligence, the role of governance can't be overstated. Indeed, in our recent newsletters on sentience, artificial general intelligence and the singularity, we’ve stressed why it’s so important that each of us as parents, citizens and professionals ask searching questions about the ethical basis for AI in our society.

So this week, as we begin to explore more than 50 topics on the issue of AI, we examine the work of the UK government in creating an appropriate regulatory environment that provides the right protections for us today and is flexible enough to adapt as technology changes.

Office for Artificial Intelligence: the government nerve centre

Until recently we were unaware of the UK’s Office for Artificial Intelligence! We’ve been working in the field of change and transformation for years, yet we’d not heard about this new and significant public body.

It’s part of the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which was created in February following a government reshuffle. The Office for AI aims not just to make the UK a global leader in AI but also to bring coherence to various governmental approaches to AI.

One of the first things it created was a National AI Strategy, which focuses on fostering innovation and public trust, which the new office says is key to building an AI-ready society. It’s created short, medium and long term goals in its associated AI Action Plan, including:

• Short term: investing in AI research and development, and making sure that businesses have access to the data and computing resources they need to develop AI

• Medium term: supporting the transition to an AI-enabled economy, and making sure that the UK has the right governance approach in place for AI technologies

• Long term: ensuring that the UK remains a global leader in AI research, development, deployment, and governance

One of its early actions has been to publish a White Paper on AI. It focuses on a pro-innovation approach (essential for growth) balanced with regulatory and ethical grips.

The non-political House of Lords Library in July provided a detailed and in-depth analysis of AI in the UK. Report author James Tobin said:

His report goes on to examine the opportunities, risks and challenges presented by AI in the UK, and assesses public policy making to date.

He praises the UK for:

• Investing in AI research and development: the report praises the government for its investment in AI research and development. It says that this investment is essential to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of AI innovation.

• Promoting the use of AI in the real world: the report also praises the government for its efforts to promote the use of AI in the real world. It says that the government's initiatives, such as the AI Sector Deal, are helping to make the UK a more attractive place for AI businesses to invest and grow.

But calls for more:

• Regulation: the report encourages the government to adapt its approach set out in the White Paper, arguing that it is too light-touch and may not be effective in protecting the public from the potential harms of AI.

• Focus: the report says that the government needs to have a clearer focus on how it wants to use AI to benefit the UK.

Tobin also praises the UK for working with its international partners (specifically the US and EU) to create joined-up AI regulation. He notes that the EU and US are working together on AI standards and emerging risks. However, the two have different regulatory approaches, with the EU taking a more precautionary approach than the US, resulting in the UK considering its own approach.

The hiatus in international collaboration on AI regulation is a concern shared by observers of the government’s approach.

Writing in April about the publication of the government’s white paper, Ben White said the “government’s AI strategy is a recipe for irrelevance”.

He praises the UK as a leader in private investment in AI companies and the government’s recognition that AI has the potential to boost innovation and growth across the private and public sectors.

But he raises concerns that the current approach will “stifle innovation” and make it hard for UK companies to compete internationally because of regulatory differences of intellectual property.

Where do we go from here?

As we've seen, the landscape of AI governance in the UK is both promising and fraught with challenges. So, what can each of us do?

1. Stay informed: knowledge is power. If you're interested in learning more about the intricacies of AI development and its impact on society, we recommend reading the full House of Lords report for a comprehensive understanding of where we stand.
   

2. Stay engaged: The government's approach to AI will be significantly shaped by public opinion. Take the opportunity to participate in any future public consultations or forums on AI governance. Your voice matters. You can sign up to receive Office of Artificial Intelligence publications.
   

3. Spread awareness: share this newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues who should be part of this important conversation. The more people we have questioning, debating, and challenging the status quo, the better our collective decisions will be.
   

4. Watch this space: over the coming weeks, we'll continue to delve into various facets of AI, its governance, and its societal impact. Make sure you're subscribed to stay up-to-date on this rapidly evolving field.

By keeping ourselves informed and participating actively in shaping the AI landscape, we can work towards a future where technology is not just innovative but also inclusive, ethical and humane.

Until next week …..

Warren and Mark
Your curators of AI knowledge