August 2024
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Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on next steps for AI policy and regulation in the UK.
It brought together stakeholders and policymakers to examine priorities for AI policy in the new parliament, with recent publication by key regulators of their strategic approaches to AI.
Delegates considered priorities for addressing gaps in current strategies, resourcing, and funding. They assessed options for further regulatory development and future legislation, with the previous government having called for a context-based approach that builds AI regulation into existing frameworks.
Overall, sessions in the agenda examined priorities for supporting a robust and fair market in the UK, and sustainable and responsible growth in the AI ecosystem, including assessing innovation opportunities alongside industry commitments to frontier AI safety.
There was a focus on the way forward for ensuring AI safety and cybersecurity, including addressing concerns over design transparency and measures to mitigate cross-sectoral risk. With the recent Call for views on the Cyber Security of AI from DSIT in May 2024, delegates examined the proposed voluntary AI Cyber Security Code of Practice for developers and operators to protect end-users, and other potential options moving forward.
There was discussion on priorities for the AI Safety Institute following the recent launch of their UK AI safety evaluation platform.
The conference was also an opportunity to consider the future for transnational collaboration and the UK’s role in further regulatory developments, as delegates assessed outcomes from the AI Seoul Summit and initial findings on AI capabilities and risks in the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI interim report.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Imran Shafi, Director, AI Policy, DSIT; Markus Anderljung, Head, Policy, Centre for the Governance of AI; Kate Jones, CEO, Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum; and Shin-Shin Hua, Assistant Director, Digital Markets Unit, Competition and Markets Authority.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- frontier AI models: potential benefits and concerns - recent trends in application - implications for downstream users - reducing systemic risk in highly capable models - safe deployment and proliferation
- regulation: addressing gaps in existing frameworks - strategies for regulatory coordination - pro-innovation approaches - options for future guidance - enabling regulation to adapt to future developments - funding and resourcing
- supporting innovation: priorities for sustainable growth and development - encouraging sector and investor confidence - support for innovators in navigating regulatory complexities
- AI safety and rollout: impact of the UK’s open source AI safety evaluation platform - addressing cross-sectoral AI risks - findings from the interim International Scientific Report - role of the proposed Code of Practice
- creation of a fair market: impact of AI model development on competition in UK markets - next steps for facilitating competition - identifying and mitigating harmful outcomes
- maximising growth and development: priorities for international collaboration and cooperation - navigating ethical complexities - supporting start-ups and scaling up UK-based developers - building public trust - skills and talent development
- AI Seoul Summit: assessing outcomes and implications for UK AI policy - industry commitments to frontier AI safety
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues in the presence of key policy officials who attended from DBT; DSIT; Dstl; GLD; NCSC; CMA; Ofcom; DWP; ICO; IPO; OPSS; Ofgem; DAERA, NI; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI;DESNZ; DfT; DHSC; Education Scotland; FCDO; FSA; Geospatial Commission; Home Office; HSE; HMRC; MOD; MOJ; MCA; Transport Scotland; UKSA; and The Scottish Government.
The proceedings of the conference will be circulated more widely, to Parliamentarians, ministerial offices, and government and regulatory officials with an interest in the issues being discussed. All delegates will also receive a video recording of the conference.
