November 2019
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
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This seminar focused on the next steps for developing the AI sector in the UK - with sessions discussing the research, investment, skills and ethical challenges which underpin its development.
The conference assessed the progress of the AI Sector Deal - which set out the Government’s approach to skills, infrastructure, research and finance in the sector. Discussion drew upon the one-year on update from the Government
Delegates considered what has been learnt so far, what more is needed to support the sector, - and the priorities for the Office of Artificial Intelligence and AI Council, which were set up to realise the full potential of AI to the economy as part of the Sector Deal.
Delegates discussed the key priorities for meeting the UK’s AI skills demand including retaining AI graduates, developing a diverse workforce, and upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce.
It follows the skills and talent package announced by the Government in February to support the growth of a world-leading AI sector in the UK - which included plans for new industry-funded AI Masters, and 16 dedicated UK Research and Innovation AI Centres for Doctoral Training at universities.
The UK’s positioning in the global AI sector was also assessed - which included discussion around competitiveness, international collaboration and its place as a world leader.
Following the publication of the White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution - which set out plans to create a regulatory system that will support innovation while protecting citizens and the environment - and the AI Readiness Index 2019 - which ranked the UK second globally - delegates discussed what more is needed to support the development and growth of AI across the UK.
This included considerations around the national data infrastructure that is required to enable widespread adoption of AI - such as ‘Data Trusts’, 5G and fibre broadband infrastructure and high performance computing.
This conference followed government investment of £250m into a new National AI Lab for the NHS, and increased funding for the Four Centres of Excellence, both with the aim to improve diagnostics and screening capabilities and improve care delivery.
Attendees discussed priorities for The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation - also set up as part of the sector deal - as it sets its 2 Year Strategy and workplan for 2019/20 - which includes plans for reviews into online targeting and bias in decision-making algorithms. The latest thinking on designing and regulating a fit-for-purpose ethical framework for the use of AI and the data upon which it relies was also considered.
