The UK is on course for more agile AI regulation, backing regulators with the skills and tools they need to address the risks and opportunities of AI as part of the government’s response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation today.
The AI regulation measures come as £10m in funding has been announced to prepare and upskill regulators to address the risks and harness the opportunities of this defining technology.
The fund will help regulators develop cutting-edge research and practical tools to monitor and address risks and opportunities in their sectors, from telecoms and healthcare to finance and education.
Examples could include new technical tools for examining AI systems.
Helping key regulators navigate AI measures
Many regulators have already taken action. For example, the Information Commissioner’s Office has updated guidance on how our strong data protection laws apply to AI systems that process personal data to include fairness and has continued to hold organisations accountable, such as through issuing enforcement notices.
However, the UK government wants to build on this by further aiding them with AI regulation as use of the technology ramps up.
The UK’s agile regulatory system will simultaneously allow regulators to respond rapidly to emerging risks while giving developers room to innovate and grow in the UK.
In a drive to boost transparency and provide confidence to British businesses and citizens, key regulators, including Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority, have been asked to publish their approach to managing the technology by 30 April.
It will see them set out AI-related risks in their areas, detail their current skillset and expertise to address them, and plan how they will approach AI regulation over the coming year.
The UK will become a leader in AI safety
This forms part of the AI Regulation White Paper consultation response, published today, which carves out the UK’s own approach to regulation and will ensure it can quickly adapt to emerging issues and avoid placing burdens on businesses which could stifle innovation.
This approach to AI regulation will mean the UK can be more agile than competitor nations while also leading AI safety research and evaluation, charting a bold course for the UK to become a leader in safe, responsible AI innovation.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Michelle Donelan said: “The UK’s innovative approach to AI regulation has made us a world leader in both AI safety and AI development.
“I am driven by AI’s potential to transform our public services and the economy for the better – leading to new treatments for cruel diseases like cancer and dementia and opening the door to advanced skills and technology that will power the British economy of the future.”
Other initiatives for responsible AI regulation
Meanwhile, almost £90m will go towards launching nine new research hubs across the UK and a partnership with the US on responsible AI regulation.
The hubs will support British AI expertise in harnessing the technology across areas including healthcare, chemistry, and mathematics.
£19m will also go towards 21 projects to develop innovative, trusted, and responsible AI and Machine Learning solutions to accelerate the deployment of these technologies and drive productivity.
These measures sit alongside the £100m invested by the government in the world’s first AI Safety Institute to evaluate the risks of new AI models and the global leadership shown by hosting the world’s first major summit on AI safety at Bletchley Park in November.
“I welcome the UK government’s statement on the next steps for AI regulation, and the balance it strikes between supporting innovation and ensuring AI is used safely and responsibly,” stated Lila Ibrahim, Chief Operating Officer of Google DeepMind.
Markus Anderljung, Head of Policy at Centre for the Governance of AI, added: “The UK’s approach to AI regulation is evolving in a positive direction: it heavily relies on existing regulators, takes concrete steps to support them, while also investing in identifying and addressing gaps in the regulatory ecosystem.”
