UK deputy PM warns UN that AI regulation is falling behind advances

In a stark address to the UN, UK Deputy PM Oliver Dowden has sounded the alarm on the potentially destabilising impact of AI on the world order.

Dowden has urged governments to take immediate action to regulate AI development, warning that the rapid pace of advancement in AI technology could outstrip their ability to ensure its safe and responsible use.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Dowden highlighted that the UK will host a global summit in November...

22 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

IFOW: AI can have a positive impact on jobs

In a world where sensational headlines about AI and autonomous robots dominate the media landscape, a new report sheds light on a different narrative.

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, explores the nuanced impacts of AI adoption on jobs and work quality. Contrary to the doomsday predictions, the report suggests that AI could have a positive influence on employment and job quality.

The study, conducted by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW),...

20 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

CMA sets out principles for responsible AI development 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set out its principles to ensure the responsible development and use of foundation models (FMs).

FMs are versatile AI systems with the potential to revolutionise various sectors, from information access to healthcare. The CMA's report, published today, outlines a set of guiding principles aimed at safeguarding consumer protection and fostering healthy competition within this burgeoning industry.

Foundation models – known...

19 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK to pitch AI’s potential for international development at UN

The UK is pitching its vision for leveraging AI’s potential to accelerate development in the world's most impoverished nations during the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The vision was set out by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and calls upon international partners to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in harnessing AI for development in Africa and making progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of its efforts, the UK is launching the 'AI...

18 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK government outlines AI Safety Summit plans

The UK government has announced plans for the global AI Safety Summit on 1-2 November 2023.

The major event – set to be held at Bletchley Park, home of Alan Turing and other Allied codebreakers during the Second World War – aims to address the pressing challenges and opportunities presented by AI development on both national and international scales.

Secretary of State Michelle Donelan has officially launched the formal engagement process leading up to the summit....

4 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT’s political bias highlighted in study

A study conducted by computer and information science researchers from the UK and Brazil has raised concerns about the objectivity of ChatGPT.

The researchers claim to have discovered substantial political bias in ChatGPT's responses, leaning towards the left side of the political spectrum.

Published in the journal Public Choice this week, the study – conducted by Fabio Motoki, Valdemar Pinho, and Victor Rodrigues – argues that the presence of political bias in...

18 August 2023 | Applications

Study highlights impact of demographics on AI training

A study conducted in collaboration between Prolific, Potato, and the University of Michigan has shed light on the significant influence of annotator demographics on the development and training of AI models.

The study delved into the impact of age, race, and education on AI model training data—highlighting the potential dangers of biases becoming ingrained within AI systems.

“Systems like ChatGPT are increasingly used by people for everyday tasks,” explains...

17 August 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK Deputy PM: AI is the most ‘extensive’ industrial revolution yet

Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has shared his view that AI will be the most “extensive” industrial revolution yet.

Dowden highlighted AI's dual role, emphasising its capacity to augment productivity and streamline mundane tasks. However, he also put the spotlight on the looming threats it poses to democracies worldwide.

in an interview with The Times, Mr Dowden said: “This is a total revolution that is coming. It’s going to totally transform almost...

14 August 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Error-prone facial recognition leads to another wrongful arrest

The Detroit Police Department (DPD) is once again under scrutiny as a new lawsuit emerges, revealing that another innocent person has been wrongly arrested due to a flawed facial recognition match.

Porcha Woodruff, an African American woman who was eight months pregnant at the time, is the sixth individual to come forward and report being falsely accused of a crime because of the controversial technology utilised by law enforcement.

Woodruff was accused of robbery and...

7 August 2023 | Applications

BSI publishes guidance to boost trust in AI for healthcare

In a bid to foster greater digital trust in AI products used for medical diagnoses and treatment, the British Standards Institution (BSI) has released high-level guidance.

The guidance, titled ’Validation framework for the use of AI within healthcare – Specification (BS 30440),’ aims to bolster confidence among clinicians, healthcare professionals, and providers regarding the safe, effective, and ethical development of AI tools.

As the global debate on the...

2 August 2023 | Applications