Quick Update on AI Governance (Even If Some Think It's All Growth)

01 February 2025

The UK Releases an AI Action Plan?

The United Kingdom is taking big steps to drive AI majesty, with the release of their AI Action Plan. ?Here are the core initiatives:

Infrastructure & Computing

• Expand AI Research Resource capacity 20x by 2030, starting within 6 months from now
• Create AI Growth Zones to accelerate data center development
• Develop an AI tech stack supporting language models for citizen interactions

Data & Research

• Create a copyright-cleared British media training dataset for international licensing
• Establish data experimentation environments with streamlined dataset access
• Mandate infrastructure interoperability and code reusability standards

Talent & Oversight

• Optimize immigration pathways to attract top AI graduates
• Require annual regulatory reporting on AI innovation and growth
• Appoint AI Sector Champions in life sciences, financial services, and creative industries
• Create UK Sovereign AI unit to maximize Britain's stake in frontier AI development

Core Objectives

1. Invest in AI foundations through computing, data infrastructure, talent, and regulation
2. Drive AI adoption across public and private sectors
3. Position UK as an AI producer rather than consumer to influence AI development, safety, and governance

This plan reflects a strategic shift toward establishing the UK as a leader in AI development rather than merely implementing existing technologies.

Kenya's Bold Vision as Africa's AI Leader

Kenya has unveiled its National AI Strategy 2025-2030, tackling critical concerns facing AI development in Kenya, ranging from potential labor market disruptions to data sovereignty and the digital divide. [https://ict.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-01/Kenya%20National%20AI%20Strategy%20%28Draft%29%20for%20Public%20Validation%20%20%5B14-01-2025%5D.pdf]

The strategy's comprehensive scope addresses seven key pillars for a robust foundation with responsible governance: digital infrastructure development, data ecosystem framework, research and development, talent cultivation, governance structures, investment strategies, and ethical considerations.?

Kenya's balanced focus on both technological advancement and social responsibility, which is (sadly) noteworthy. With a focus on AI's applicability to African challenges and global standards, as well as developing the local talent, it's rather forward-thinking compared to some Western nations.?

The plan also acknowledges the significant investment required to establish a thriving AI industry, proposing various financing options for implementation.. Kenya's framework shows how developing nations can approach AI advancement while maintaining sovereignty over their technological future and ensuring equitable development across society.

This strategy represents more than just a technological roadmap; it's a vision for digital transformation that could serve as a model for African nations and beyond looking to develop their AI capabilities in a socially cognizant way.?

California, the US's Leading Regulator

California isn't just one of the largest economies in the world and the home of technology companies, it's also one of the leaders in regulation and law for artificial intelligence. California has taken a significant step in AI regulation by issuing two comprehensive legal advisories that outline potentially unlawful AI practices under state law, creating a detailed framework for AI governance.?[https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-issues-legal-advisories-application-california-law-ai]

At the core, California's advisories focus heavily on preventing deceptive practices in AI deployment, requiring that businesses must be truthful about their AI systems' capabilities, accuracy, and human involvement. False advertising about AI functionality, performance metrics, or bias levels is explicitly prohibited. The guidelines also take a strong stance against AI-powered impersonation, particularly addressing deepfakes, unauthorized voice cloning, and digital recreations of individuals without consent.

A significant portion of the framework addresses identity protection and impersonation, prohibiting using AI to impersonate real individuals for fraudulent purposes, government officials, or any unlawful activities, and strict regulations against creating and using synthetic media that could mislead or deceive.

For those of us working in legal tech, particularly noteworthy are the new California AI laws effective January 1, 2025. Key requirements include:

• Mandatory business disclosures about AI usage
• Enhanced protections against unauthorized likeness use
• Specific regulations for AI in political campaigns
• Required reporting of exploitative AI applications

The guidelines emphasize fair use principles, requiring that AI applications' benefits must outweigh potential negative impacts. This balanced approach aims to foster innovation while protecting public interests and individual rights.

The USPTO Jumps in on AI Strategy

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has released its comprehensive AI strategy [https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/uspto-ai-strategy.pdf], establishing clear directives AI and innovation. The?USPTO's vision centers on leveraging AI to advance American "innovation, inclusive capitalism, and global competitiveness."

The USPTO structures this as a three-party mission: (1) fostering AI development and commercialization in domestic and global markets, (2) implementing AI solutions to optimize USPTO operations and stakeholder service, and (3) supporting innovation through enhanced data access and research capabilities. They then lay out five focus areas:?

1. Develop IP policies promoting inclusive AI innovation
2. Build robust AI infrastructure and computational resources
3. Ensure responsible AI implementation across the innovation ecosystem
4. Strengthen USPTO workforce AI expertise
5. Enhance collaboration with government agencies and international partners

Despite not specifically having copyright within the USPTO, the USPTO also laid out that it will work with partners in the USA and abroad, including the U.S Copyright Office regarding litigation, international alignment, and the intersection of intellectual property law and artificial intelligence.?