AI council ropes in experts to boost UK’s AI sector

Experts from industry, academia and data rights organizations have been appointed to the UK’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council. The line-up includes online-only retailer Ocado’s Chief Technology Officer, Paul Clarke; Board Member of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation Dame Patricia Hodgson and Alan Turing Institute Chief Executive, Professor Adrian Smith. 

This comes as government celebrates the one year anniversary of the AI Sector Deal as part of the modern industrial strategy, which aims to realize the full potential of AI to the economy. 

Digital Secretary, Jeremy Wright, said, “Britain is already a leading authority in AI. We are home to some of the world’s finest academic institutions, landing record levels of investment to the sector and attracting the best global tech talent, but we must not be complacent.”

He also added that through the AI Council they will continue this momentum by leveraging the knowledge of experts from a range of sectors to provide leadership on the best use and adoption of artificial intelligence across the economy.

Business Secretary, Greg Clark, said, “This AI Council follows our ground-breaking AI Sector Deal, and is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy – investing now to secure the UK’s position on the world stage in these cutting edge technologies both now and long into the future.”

The intention is for the AI Council to cultivate and encourage a much wider representation of experts to focus on specific topics which will initially include but not limited to, data & ethics, adoption, skills and diversity. This will allow the broader AI community to work together to drive towards solutions and engage in making the UK a leader in the AI and data revolution.