Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of universities in supporting the development of public policy on artificial intelligence and other new technologies.

Government understands that academic expertise is critical for developing strong public policy on AI and emerging technologies. It is commonplace for teams working on AI and technology policy to consult with academic experts. The AI policy team has engaged with academic experts in many aspects of policy development. This includes, but is not limited to:

• The AI Safety Summit. Government convened other country leaders, industry, academia and civil society to share views on how to drive forward research on AI safety, ensuring the benefits of this technology can be harnessed responsibly for good and for all.
• The AI Regulation White Paper. Government heard from over 400 individuals and organisations, with a wide range of views represented including those in academia. Such close engagement with academia was an integral part of the policy analysis that informed the AI Regulation White Paper. The newly established central AI risk function in DSIT will use expertise from academia, as well as from across government, industry, and the AI Safety Institute.
• The AI Safety Institute. The institute is engaging with the UK academic community to develop the tools to enhance the safety of AI and leading universities and academic groups welcomed the AI Safety Institute’s launch.
• Compute. Government has confirmed that the University of Bristol will host the new AI Research Resource (AIRR), a national resource to support essential study into the potential and safe use of technology. This facility aims to help researchers maximise the promise of AI.
• Skills. Government continues to liaise closely with universities and educational institutions to deliver a broad package of AI skills and talent initiatives, broadening the supply of talent in the UK AI labour market. For example, through the £30 million AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme, government funded universities to develop masters level AI or data science courses suitable for non-STEM students, and up to 2,600 scholarships for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the tech industry.