UK releases guide to using AI in government

The UK’s Government Digital Service and the Office for Artificial Intelligence have jointly published a guidance document on how to build and use artificial intelligence for the public sector.

Available for free download online, the guide outlines the potential benefits as well as the pitfalls for employing AI in government service, along with plenty of short case studies.

The UK’s most recent Industrial Strategy White Paper set AI and data as one of four Grand Challenges, supported by up to £950m in the so-called AI Sector Deal.

To progress the Deal, the government set up three new bodies to support the use of AI, build infrastructure and facilitate public and private sector adoption:

• An AI Council comprising independent members, to provide leadership on implementing the AI Sector Deal.
• An Office for AI, which will work with industry and academia to coordinate and oversee implementation of the strategy.
• A Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, which will investigate ways to ensure AI development is safe, ethical and innovative.
   

The UK government has set up two funds to support the development and uptake of AI systems:

• The GovTech Catalyst, to help public sector organisations take advantage of emerging technologies.
• The Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, to help regulators promote cutting-edge practices when developing emerging technologies.
   

You can download the report here.

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