The UK Government Invests $125 Million Towards AI Regulation And Research!

As artificial intelligence (AI) grows and finds more adoption across industries, governments around the world are recognizing the need for AI technologies to be developed ethically.

On November 1st and 2nd, 2023, the UK hosted an AI Safety Summit to address the various concerns surrounding the use of AI as well as appropriate rules and regulations. This was backed by the US making its own moves in AI regulation.

Shortly after this, the US and UK issued new global guidelines for AI safety, which was endorsed by 16 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea and Singapore.

On the flip side, countries are also tying up with experts and leading companies to propel their AI adoption. Among these moves comes the UK government’s tie-up with Microsoft, aimed at boosting AI innovation.

Now, the UK government has further news as it looks to further AI innovation.

So, what did they announce? Let’s explore!
 

What Did The UK Government Announce?

 

• In a press release, the UK government announced it was investing over £100 million ($125 million) to support regulators and advance AI research and innovation.

• As per the announcement, £10 million ($12.5 million) will be used to prepare and upskill regulators to address risks, which includes developing powerful research and practical tools to monitor risks and identify opportunities across sectors such as telecom, healthcare, finance, education and more.

• Ahead of this, almost £90 million ($112 million) will be used to launch nine new research hubs across the UK, as well as towards its partnership with the US on responsible AI.

• This also consists of an investment of £9 million ($11.2 million) using the government’s International Science Partnerships Fund to facilitate collaboration between researchers and innovators in the UK and the US, focusing on developing safe, responsible and trustworthy AI.

• Additionally, a £2 million ($2.5 million) funding towards the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) was also announced, which will help define responsible AI in sectors like education, policing and the creative industries.

• Ahead of this, £19 million ($23.8 million) will be used across 21 projects aimed at developing innovative trusted and responsible AI and machine learning solutions to push development and drive productivity from these technologies.

• The UK government will also launch a steering committee to guide the activities of a formal regulator coordination structure within the government.

• As the UK government looks to drive transparency to provide confidence to British businesses and citizens, key regulators (including Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority) will be required to publish their approach and plans of managing the technology by April 30, 2024. This will include highlighting the risks they could face in their areas.

 
 

What Did UK Government Officials Say?

 

• Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said, “The UK’s innovative approach to AI regulation has made us a world leader in both AI safety and AI development.” 

• [Contd.] “I am personally 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.”

• [Contd.] “AI is moving fast, but we have shown that humans can move just as fast. By taking an agile, sector-specific approach, we have begun to grip the risks immediately, which in turn is paving the way for the UK to become one of the first countries in the world to reap the benefits of AI safely.”

Do you think other governments will consider investing in AI technologies to ensure its ethical development? How can governments enforce safety measures and regulations for AI technologies?

Let us know in the comments below!