The UK has secured tens of millions of pounds in public funding to develop safe and secure artificial intelligence projects.
Investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the national funding body science and technologyrevealed at London Tech Week.
Much of the funding has gone to the Responsible AI group, led by the University of Southampton, to ensure that future models benefit society rather than threaten it.
Project leader Professor Gopal Ramchurn warned that just because AI has been tested or validated by its creators in “well-defined settings” does not mean it should be trusted by the public, government and industry.
“Trustworthy AI tends to be viewed from a very technical perspective,” he said.
While it can be considered reliable in a “tested and specific closed environment”, once released to the public, new problems may arise – such as the use of users’ personal data.
Meet the world’s first hyper-realistic robot
Responsible AI will receive £31m in funding, with the remainder going to dozens of other initiatives.
Around £2 million will be allocated to 42 projects to conduct feasibility studies on how businesses can accelerate AI adoption.
Winners will receive an additional share of £19 million to further develop these solutions.
A further £13 million will be used to fund 13 projects working to help the UK meet its net zero emissions target.
read more:
AI could ‘kill humanity’ within two years, Sunak’s adviser warns
Terminator blamed for public concerns over AI
It happened after Rishi Sunak Featured at London Tech Week Talk about the benefits AI can bring to UK business and the public sector.
The Prime Minister said that while the technology needed to be regulated, it could transform the entire economy, with “essentially every job having artificial intelligence as its co-pilot”.
Education Minister Gillian Keegan also used the event to call for advice from technology and education experts and business leaders on how to use artificial intelligence “in a safe and secure manner”.
her appearance Follow Labor leader Sir Keir Starmerhe warned many jobs could be replaced by AI and called for a “smarter discussion” about its impact on UK industry.
AI is getting ‘crazier and crazier’
The government has announced that the UK will host a global conference in the autumn to discuss the regulatory “guardrails” that will mitigate the future risks of artificial intelligence, which Mr Sunak linked to COP climate summit.
The European Union is already pushing its own guardrails, with the European Parliament approving proposed AI regulations on Wednesday.
The draft legislation aims to set a global standard for the technology, which is used in everything from generative models like ChatGPT to self-driving cars.
Companies that do not comply with the provisions of the proposed AI bill could face fines of up to 30 million euros (£25 million) or 6% of global profits, whichever is higher. This would put Microsoft, a large financial backer of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, at risk of a fine of more than $10bn (£7.9bn).
The proposals will now be debated by EU member states before being signed into law.