May 2024
Price: £150 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference discussed key emerging issues relating to the impact of AI on employment and workplaces in the UK, implications for employers and the workforce, and options for legislation and regulation.
Discussion brought out latest thinking on challenges and opportunities for job markets across a range of sectors, as well as for recruitment and employment practices.
It was an opportunity to assess issues emerging from The impact of AI on UK jobs and training report published by the Department for Education in November, alongside the AI Safety Summit 2023 organised by the UK Government. Delegates also examined the recently published AI and Employment Bill from the TUC AI taskforce, which put forward proposed measures for legislation and regulation to protect workforces and employers as the use of AI in businesses grows.
Key stakeholders and policymakers assessed options for policy, education and industry practice to address concerns relating to job security, and to ensure that the greater use of automation does not distort employment and sector markets.
Further sessions looked at priorities for education and training providers in helping prepare those in learning, entering the jobs market, and whose employment might be affected by automation to develop the skills needed for careers in the future.
Delegates also looked at how AI can best be integrated into business strategies to smooth the transition for the workforce and maximise productivity, efficiency and growth, as well as next steps for innovation to enable the UK to become a global leader in responsible use of AI in the workplace.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Robert Bancroft, AI Policy Lead, Equality and Human Rights Commission; Stuart Morrison, Chief Researcher, British Chambers of Commerce; Professor Gina Neff, Co-Chair, TUC Special Advisory Committee; and Executive Director, Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge; and Nimmi Patel, Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity, techUK.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- AI and Employment Bill: assessing policy priorities for regulating use of AI by both employers and workers
- regulation: approaches for responsive, reactive and proactive policies and regulation to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology
- AI utilisation and impact: considering the issues of efficiency versus human experience - understanding implications for workplaces, employees and job markets - best practice for utilisation as ‘co-pilot’
- worker rights: minimising risks and anxieties for workers - establishing protection of job roles - ensuring AI technology does not widen inequalities in the workplace
- skills and innovation: strategic priorities for skills provision in the tech industry - upskilling for AI integration in wider sectors - enabling innovation in the UK and positioning as a global leader
- the future UK workforce: the role of automation in the workplace and strategies for improving processes and efficiencies - next steps for employment practices in the UK - assessing the impact and perspectives of different sectors
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DBT; DCMS; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Education, NI; Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, ROI; DESNZ; DfE; DFHERIS, ROI; DfT; DHSC; DLUHC; DSIT; Dstl; DWP; IfATE; Education Scotland; FSA; GLD; GO-Science; HMRC; Home Office; HoC Library; Geospatial Commission; HSE; ICO; IPO; MOD; NAO; NCSC; Ofcom; Ofsted; ONS; Transport Scotland; UKEF; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
