Secretary of State Chloe Smith meets with ‘godfather of AI’

The government’s recent AI white paper sets out the five guiding principles for the safe and innovative use of artificial intelligence. These principles are:

1) Safety, security, and robustness: applications of AI should function in a secure, safe and robust way where risks are carefully managed.

2) Transparency and explainability: organisations developing and deploying AI should be able to communicate when and how it is used and explain a system’s decision-making process in an appropriate level of detail that matches the risks posed by the use of AI.

3) Fairness: AI should be used in a way which complies with the UK’s existing laws, for example the Equality Act 2010 or UK GDPR, and must not discriminate against individuals or create unfair commercial outcomes.

4) Accountability and governance: measures are needed to ensure there is appropriate oversight of the way AI is being used and clear accountability for the outcomes.

5) Contestability and redress: people need to have clear routes to dispute harmful outcomes or decisions generated by AI.

The government’s approach will ensure the UK can adapt to fast-moving developments in the field, protecting the general public without holding businesses back from using the AI technologies which will fuel economic growth and deliver better-paid, high-skilled jobs – and build a better future through advances in healthcare and security.

The government has also launched a new Foundation Model Taskforce, backed by £100 million in government funding. Modelled on the success of the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, it will work with the sector towards developing the safety and reliability of foundation models, both at a scientific and commercial level. This technology is also predicted to raise global GDP by 7% over a decade, making its adoption a vital opportunity to grow the UK economy.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, said: “Our approach to AI, as set out in our white paper, is built on strong principles which drive innovation while also maintaining public trust.

“We are guided by an adaptable, proportionate, and flexible framework which underpins our expectations for the good, responsible use of AI, and will continually monitor and respond to the emerging risks and opportunities in artificial intelligence as they develop.”