Supercharging the UK’s effective use of data and AI
The UK’s journey into strengthening its approach to the development and use of AI started in early 2020 when the government published draft guidance on an AI auditing framework which was quickly followed up by guidance for how to explain decisions made by AI. Towards the end of the year there was guidance on AI and data protection which kickstarted the National Data Strategy.
Throughout 2021 and 2022, we received the Algorithmic Transparency Standard, the Centre for Data, Ethics and Innovation’s Effective AI Assurance Roadmap and the National AI action plan, against a backdrop of the Integrated Review and the Integrate Review refresh. These are just a few examples of the policies and strategies which propose standards as a way to foster innovation and regulate AI, and we are not alone in this global race to capitalise on the benefits of emerging technologies.
As a result, standards and commonly agreed technical specifications will play an increasingly significant role for advancing the governance and adoption of AI in the coming years as the range of applications of AI continues to increase. They set out best practices to ensure that AI-related products, processes and services perform as intended and can help unlock the economic potential of AI by increasing consistency and interoperability of AI technologies.
To ensure that industry, regulators, civil society and academic researchers have the tools and knowledge to contribute to the development of such standards and make informed use of published standards to advance trustworthy and responsible AI, the AI Standards Hub was established.
The hub is an initiative, led by the Alan Turing Institute in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Office for AI, which is addressing the challenges faced by stakeholders in navigating the evolving landscape of AI standardisation and aims to increase the country’s contribution to the development of international standards for AI.
Almost all of the ‘game-changing’ products, solutions and services – across various sectors and society – that will help us address major global challenges such as climate change, public health and energy resilience will rely on confidence in data and its employment in advanced, AI-driven digital technologies.
Standards, and in NPL’s case the technical measurement standards that emanate from the metrology, the science of measurement, that we do, are however in their infancy. To unlock and extract the maximum value from data and AI we need to have confidence. Confidence in the quality of the data and confidence in how trustworthy, robust, safe or risky the outputs of AI tools, technologies and systems are. Traditionally, organisations such as NPL, have focused on quantification and quantitative inputs and outputs and providing confidence levels which are essential to determine a technology’s trustworthiness. But we need to consider that the application of AI is very context specific. What matters to me right now, may not matter to you, or, what matters to me now might not matter in 5 minutes – so if my application is either business or safety critical, how do I have confidence in such a system?
As the world transforms around us, we need to transform with it, and indeed stay ahead of it. Whilst physical infrastructure technologies have been in place for over 100 years, in this world increasingly driven by data at the speed of AI, the same cannot be said of the assets required to establish a digital measurement infrastructure, especially one that is both dynamic and complex. There is a very live discussion at the moment in regard to what quantitative AND qualitative metrics are needed to assure AI and enable the measurement when being assessed for conformity to standards – if you have an interest do please get involved.
AI Standards Hub - The New Home of the AI Standards Community
National Physical Laboratory - NPL - impact from science - NPL
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
Upcoming events:
Gaming & Esports Technologies of the Future
National Videogame Museum, Sheffield Panel discussion
A Black Lens: Exploring Representation In The Future of Extended Reality (XR)
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Sprint Campaigns
techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.
Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).
Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK.
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Report
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Upcoming events
Event round-ups
Guest insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
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