The technology minister says technology has the potential to “transform public services and the economy for the better”.
The UK has announced plans to spend more than £100 million ($125 million) on research and training related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Under plans announced on Tuesday, the government will launch nine new AI research hubs across the UK, support research projects looking at the responsible use of AI in education, policing and the creative industries, and provide regulators with the technology The plan is to provide training on managing risks and benefits.
Michelle Donnellan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said AI had the potential to “transform public services and economies for the better” and create treatments for diseases such as cancer and dementia. .
“AI is moving fast, but we have proven that humans can move just as fast. By taking an agile, domain-specific approach, we can quickly understand risks. This is paving the way for the UK to become one of the first countries in the world to safely reap the benefits of AI,” Mr Donnellan said. In a statement.
The announcement comes after the UK launched the world's first institute dedicated to AI safety in November and hosted a global summit on the topic. More than 25 countries have signed the so-called Bletchley Declaration, which acknowledges the technology's “significant, even catastrophic” risks. harm”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to position his country as a leader in AI regulation, insisting that only the government can properly assess the risks of technology and have the “power and legitimacy to keep the public safe”. .
Executives from major companies in the AI field, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, welcomed the government's announcement.
Chief Operating Officer, Google DeepMind: “A hub-and-spoke model will help the UK benefit from the regulator's expertise, as well as clarify the AI ecosystem. I will support the regulator with further resources. We particularly support the initiative,” Lila Ibrahim said in a statement.
“AI is an opportunity to drive human progress and I look forward to working with the Government to ensure the UK remains a world leader in AI research and sets appropriate regulatory standards.”
