Britain’s Path to Ethical AI Excellence: A Gold Standard for the Future

Going for Gold: Britain Can Set the Standard in Ethical AI

A recent study conducted by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, suggests that the UK is poised to establish the “gold standard” in ethical artificial intelligence (AI). As home to influential AI companies such as DeepMind, Graphcore, and others, the UK currently leads Europe in AI development. However, it struggles to match the level of funding and support found in nations like the US and China.

Experts advocate that the UK leverage its strengths in leading universities, institutions, diplomatic relations, and democratic values to excel in creating AI that prioritizes humanity. Dr. Bill Mitchell OBE, Director of Policy at BCS and one of the report’s chief authors, emphasizes that, “The UK should set the ‘gold standard’ for professional and ethical AI, which is critical for our economic recovery. Everyone deserves to have understanding and confidence in AI, as it increasingly influences our lives.” He believes the field should attract a diverse workforce that reflects the needs of the populations they serve, whether developing credit scoring apps, cancer diagnostics, or recruitment tools.

The report points out that existing biases in AI systems can exacerbate societal issues, including widening wealth disparities and discrimination related to race, gender, and more. “It’s about cultivating a skilled, ethical, and diverse workforce and political leadership that comprehend AI well enough to devise appropriate societal solutions,” states Mitchell. Achieving this will require strong governmental leadership as well as access to training in digital skills across the population.

Public trust in AI has waned due to notable missteps, such as the previous summer’s crisis involving an algorithm used to estimate student grades. A subsequent survey from YouGov, commissioned by BCS, revealed that 53 percent of UK adults lack faith in any organization’s ability to make judgments about them.

In addition, reports indicated that code developed by Professor Neil Ferguson’s team at Imperial College London, which influenced the decision to implement lockdowns, was labeled “totally unreliable,” further eroding public trust in software. Despite subsequent validations of this epidemiological code in journals like Nature, the initial narrative persists among those who may not be aware of these updates.

The report also highlights a significant gap in the ethical practices and competencies among organizations leveraging AI. One of its recommendations is for the government to develop a framework of standards guiding AI adoption across both public and private sectors. The UK government’s National Data Strategy acknowledges that “misuse of data could adversely affect individuals or communities, overshadowing its benefits and fostering public mistrust.”

BCS’ report, titled “Priorities For The National AI Strategy,” builds on earlier work from the AI Council Roadmap and National Data Strategy and is intended to inform the UK government’s forthcoming AI plan.

For further insights, the complete report from BCS is available as a PDF.

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