We need to shape the AI revolution rather than wait to see how it shapes us

John Edwards is the UK Information Commissioner

The UK is the third largest AI market in the world. But without regulation, the drive for innovation and to reap the rewards of AI risks leaving the public behind.?

We have to bring them with us.?

The challenge

The adoption of generative AI technologies is a unique challenge – for both public and private sectors but also public bodies. Organisations hold vast repositories of information, often sensitive or special category data, which brings with it its own specific challenges, especially when looking to adopt new technologies.?

We know that the rapidly-changing legislative landscape – the UK GDPR, the previous DPDI Bill, the incoming DUA Bill – can seem overwhelming. There’s a lot of spinning plates. When introducing new technologies organisations need to consider things like their duty to people and how they can continue to provide a service, on top of any potential cost savings or competitive advantages that may come out of utilising generative AI.?

We want the UK to be a place where organisations can grow and thrive. We wrote to government at the end of last year setting out our initiatives and ideas for how we’re going to contribute to growth and innovation through our work.

How we can help?

AI, growth, innovation – it's a cycle. One feeds into the other into the other. So in our role as regulator, we offer both guidance and support to those who need it, the organisations working at the sharp end.?

Our innovation services offering helps us to provide that support – our sandbox, Innovation Advice, innovation hub and DPIA team. Designed to help everyone, from small start-ups to multinational corporations.?

• We helped Crisis to find data sharing solutions to support the prevention and relief of homelessness in the UK – creating a real-time list of those experiencing homelessness in a pre-defined geographical area.

• We worked with UK Finance and the Home Office to arrange an information sharing pilot between banks to more effectively manage financial crime.

• We discussed with a care home the best way to implement a new AI system to alert staff to falls or potential falls. They wanted to install cameras in the residents’ private rooms. We provided advice on which lawful bases they could rely on.

• And we’ve worked with regulators, government departments and innovation bodies like Catapults to host innovation support programmes, TechSprints and Challenges to provide free, tailored, privacy-by-design advice.

Joined-up thinking?

We can’t do this alone – we work closely with our fellow regulators (Ofcom, CMA, FCA) as part of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to provide a seamless service across each of our regulatory remits. This year we have piloted the AI and Digital Hub and provided informal advice on complex regulatory questions that cover more than one remit.?

Our own Sandbox service also helps us to be a pro-innovation regulator. As set out to government at the end of last year, we want to develop our offering and allow more experimentation by giving businesses a time-limited derogation from their regulatory requirements to test their new ideas in the market. This is an ambitious plan, following the lead of Japan and South Korea who already have similar schemes in place. By doing this, by making the UK a place where pro-innovation ideas are welcomed and encouraged, I believe we can help public bodies to understand how to promote safe adoption of these new technologies, while retaining public trust and confidence.?

An opportunity too good to miss?

Despite the potential challenges to adoption, it’s important that public bodies continue to explore generative AI solutions and emerging technologies. It’s an opportunity too good to miss.

Whether you’re a small fintech start-up or a large public sector organisation using personal data to improve health outcomes, if you’re running new and novel projects using personal data, our innovation services are here to support you.?