AI Regulation In The UK: Update
As we highlighted in an article published last year, the Government published a policy statement on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI regulation on the 18th July 2022 called ‘Establishing A Pro-Innovation Approach To Regulating AI‘.
White Paper
Since then, on the 29th March 2023, the Government published a White Paper entitled "A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation", which builds upon the proposals for AI regulation set out in the aforementioned policy statement. The consultation relating to the White Paper is open until 11:45pm on 21 June 2023.
The focus of UK AI regulation according to the White Paper will be upon proportionality, with the regulatory framework being determined by the industry and context in which the system is being deployed. Accordingly, the White Paper proposes that UK AI regulation adopt a more light-touch risk-based approach compared to the more prescriptive and standardized one being pursued by the EU, which published its draft AI Act back in 2021.
There will be no new legislation re AI regulation, and no central AI regulator. Instead, existing sector regulators, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), will apply the following 5 core principles to artificial intelligence systems operated within the area they have oversight over:-
- AI system must be safe, secure, and reliable
- Outcomes arising out of the operation of AI systems must be fair
- There must a right of redress when things go wrong
- Legal responsibility and accountability to ensure that those responsible for the output of AI systems are clearly defined, and that there is effective supervision of those systems.
- There must be transparency in the use of AI systems
Rather than provide a precise definition of artificial intelligence, the White Paper instead focuses upon what it regards as the two core characteristics which the technology exhibits: its ability to adapt to its environment and its ability to make autonomous decisions. Hence, regulation will be applied to technology that displays these two characteristics, in order to address the risks and issues arising out of it in the manner set out above.
Decentralised
To mitigate the risks that come with a decentralised approach, such as a lack of consistency across sectors in terms of guidance and enforcement, the White Paper proposes to create new functions within central Government to continuously assess the effectiveness of existing AI regulation, the monitoring of risks, public education, and "supporting testbeds and sandbox initiatives to help AI innovators get new technologies to market."
22% Of Those Working In HR Anticipate Changing Jobs Over Next 12 Months
New research just released by Ciphr has found that 22% of those working in HR expect to change their job over the next 12 months, with 10% already looking for alternative employment.
The main two reasons cited for wanting a change were a lack of career progression (42%) and a need for better work-life balance (39%). Other reasons given were higher pay (31%), poor leadership (25%), and greater job security (19%).
Reaction
Commenting upon the findings, the chief people officer at Ciphr, Claire Williams, states: "It’s not uncommon for some HR professionals to feel overlooked when it comes to their own training and career development. They often spend so much time focusing on the rest of the business that their needs aren’t always prioritised and can go unmet. There may also be an assumption that, because they work in HR, they would naturally action their own development needs and apply best practices to themselves. This research is a good reminder to employers of the importance of supporting their HR team’s career aspirations if they want to increase their chances of retaining them."
Other Research
Furthermore, research released last December by Unum UK found that 19% of workers were planning to change job across the economy as a whole in 2023, mainly out of a need for a job with a higher salary to address the cost of living crisis.
