Government funding is being made available towards launching nine new research hubs which will support British AI expertise.
Also being promoted out of the same £90 million grant is a partnership with the United States for developing responsible AI.
The cash boost comes alongside Government backing of £10 million to prepare and upskill regulators so that they can address the risks and harness the opportunities of the fast-developing technology.
The aim is to help regulators develop cutting-edge research and practical tools to monitor and address AI breakthroughs in their sectors, from telecoms and healthcare to finance and education.
A context-based, common sense approach to regulation is outlined in the Government’s response to the AI Regulation White Paper.
Further down the line, however, binding requirements could be introduced for developers building the most advanced AI systems – to ensure they are accountable for making these technologies sufficiently safe.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, said: “The UK’s innovative approach to AI regulation has made us a world leader in both AI safety and AI development.
“I am personally driven by AI’s potential to transform our public services and the economy for the better – leading to new treatments for cruel diseases like cancer and dementia, and opening the door to advanced skills and technology that will power the British economy of the future.
“AI is moving fast, but we have shown that humans can move just as fast. By taking an agile, sector-specific approach, we have begun to grip the risks immediately, which in turn is paving the way for the UK to become one of the first countries in the world to reap the benefits of AI safely.”
