UK government's much-anticipated digital strategy to prioritise AI and skills
The UK government has made AI development a key pillar of its digital strategy following a year-long delay to take into account Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
In that time there has of course been a change at the top with Theresa May becoming prime minister and Matt Hancock replacing Ed Vaizey as digital minister.
Now that the dust has settled the finalised document identifies areas of opportunity and commercialisation for the UK’s burgeoning AI research field, including the development of robots by the University of Manchester capable of autonomous operation in hazardous environments and surgical micro-robots by Imperial College London.
The review also champions plugging the digital skills gap by training up the workforce with the knowledge necessary to participate in this new economy, amidst fears of a looming recruitment crisis exacerbated by immigration restrictions.
Those who have been privy to an early draft of the document have been critical of its ambition, pointing out that much of its content is a rehash of prior initiatives leading to fears that government is too preoccupied by Brexit to give the digital economy its full attention.
The review was led by computer scientist Dame Wendy Hall and Jerome Pesenti, chief executive of AI firm BenevolentAI.