AI governance in the UK
There are several existing sources of information about AI governance available in the UK.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
The Information Commisioner’s Office is the UK regulatory body on data security. It provides advice on AI governance see, for example: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/artificial-intelligence/
The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is a cross-party committee of the UK House of Commons with a reponsibility to report to the House on the policy of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and associated public bodies. It reported recently on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence. The report is available for public inspection at https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmsctech/1769/report.html and the UK government has a legal requirement to respond by 31 October 2023. This report, although originating from the House of Commons, is not legislation, but it may inform legislation in the future.
The UK government AI safety summit
The UK government will hold an AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park on 1-2 November 2023. It has set out the aims for this summit on this UK government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-sets-out-ai-safety-summit-ambitions. Quoting this page five objectives will be progressed at the summit (bullet points in the original, sentences added):
“
- a shared understanding of the risks posed by frontier AI and the need for action.
- a forward process for international collaboration on frontier AI safety, including how best to support national and international frameworks.
- appropriate measures which individual organisations should take to increase frontier AI safety.
- areas for potential collaboration on AI safety research, including evaluating model capabilities and the development of new standards to support governance.
- showcase how ensuring the safe development of AI will enable AI to be used for good globally.”
While this shows focus on participation at different levels (national, international, organisational, individual) the outcome at the time of writing is unclear because of limited knowledge about participation.
Linking existing AI governance with anticipated future change
Nevertheless, the existing sources of information mentioned above, along with other sources of AI governance already available outside the UK, can help you. We can advise you on how the above AI governance environment changes, as well as on AI governance in the EU (see also news item on high-risk AI systems) and other countries.
How Coevolve IT Can Help
Coevolve IT has the experience of project management needed to develop a software solution. Where this will be an AI solution, we can advise how your testing procedure will lead to a responsible AI product. Because an AI product has a wider impact than just on those within the organisation producing it, we can also advise on AI ethics. Throughout, we will interact with all the stakeholders in your organisation that need to be informed and who will be involved in decision making.
For more information, get in touch.
UK AI Governance Update
The situation with respect to AI governance in the UK is continually changing, as is the technology. Keep up to date with the changes here.
