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Exploring inclusivity, AI and the future of work London continues to be Europe’s tech investment capital – raising £1.8bn in venture capital (VC) and public funding in 2018, with more initial public offerings than anywhere else in Europe. We must continue to take on the challenge of diversifying the industry, with a full commitment to inclusive innovation.
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ccording to a 2018 report, only 14.6% senior UK tech leaders are women and 70.5% senior executive teams have no BAME members at all . The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s important that the tech sector reflects the diversity of the capital and so it’s really encouraging to see this emerge as a major theme of this year’s London Tech Week – it’s right that we lead by example in a city as progressive as London. “London is Europe’s leading tech hub and our tech sector is a vital source of jobs and growth for the economy. From FinTech to artificial intelligence, London companies are leading the way in developing ideas and technologies to change the world.” London supports startups The capital continues to be a hub for innovation, with more than three times as many AI start-ups in London as any other city in Europe. We were home to 745 AI companies in 2018. AI was the UK’s fastest growing sector in 2018, achieving a 47% year on year increase in investment as it attracted £736m. Brexit will undoubtedly be on the minds of business people this year, as the industry sizes up the impact of our exit from the European Union. However, the capital remains a leading tech player, with London tech firms having attracted more than £4bn in VC funding since 2016, almost double its nearest European rivals – Paris, Berlin and Stockholm – combined. Carolyn Dawson, Managing Director of London Tech Week said: “The 4th Industrial Revolution is well underway, transforming business, society and the way we live. The UK continues to innovate as a worldwide cutting-edge tech hub and, as one of the world’s most open and welcoming markets, can lead the global conversation in designing and scaling tech business. 1: From Inclusive Boards report (November 2018) referenced: https://www.alphr.com/ business/1010188/new-report-reveals-massive-diversity-deficit-in-uk-tech-firms
About LTW: London Tech Week 2019 launches on 10th June 2019, committing not only to lead the way in tech innovation, but to tackling head-on the issue of diversity in the industry. This year’s Tech Week will once again unite tech and talent with a packed schedule of events showcasing the latest innovations in AI & quantum computing, blockchain, the future of work and more. London Tech Week connects international communities from across the spectrum to address how access to tech for all can have a profoundly positive impact in society and business. londontechweek.com Read more at londontechweek.com
4 BUSINESSANDINDUSTRY.CO.UK
Ethical AI is about people, not just technology THEO KNOTT Policy Programmes Manager, BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
Ethical AI is not just a technical issue. Equally important is empowering people, so that the benefits of AI can be felt far and wide.
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is already having a massive impact on t he lives we lead, whether that’s in the workplace, how we interact with each other or even within our health services. The decisions that are taken about how we harness the benefits of this new technology, while mitigating against its unintended consequences, should be carefully thought through. AI is powerful – it affects our daily lives and it makes decisions that are beyond our comprehension. This means careful thought about how and where it should be used, within an ethical framework is one of the preeminent challenges of our time. Our understanding of the ethical impacts of AI is poor What is concerning is that our record of understanding the ethical and societal implications of new technology has frequently been poor. Whether it be the Industrial Revolution, which at the time caused significant unemployment, or, these days, data-fuelled social media resulting in misused personal data, we generally only appreciate that we could have done things better in retrospect. As human beings, we naturally crave technological progress, so, just because new technology may mean new challenges, we shouldn’t avoid change. We must build an understanding of what progress in AI comes at the expense of, and introduce AI with a considered
AI is powerful – it affects our daily lives and it makes decisions that are beyond our comprehension. This means careful thought about how and where it should be used, within an ethical framework is one of the preeminent challenges of our time. approach. We need to take time to implement it in a way that allows its myriad benefits to be distributed far and wide and its negative aspects mitigated as best they can be. What is being done? When it comes to AI, ethical implementation means, broadly, two things: get t i ng t he reg u lat ion r ight; a nd ensuring that it is a technology that has people at its very core. While these are, in some way, interdependent goals, we can end up compounding issues by relying on yet more technology to solve problems that may arise when educating and empowering the people using it. AI must have people at its core Putting people at the heart of AI means developing AI that benefits mankind and giving people the tools to harness it. It also means putting appropriate steps in place to protect and offer redress to those who will almost inevitably be impacted as AI becomes ubiquitous, whether that be through job displacement, being the
victim of an inaccurate algorithm or something we have yet to consider entirely. We’re evolving tech that is more responsible There are tentative signs that we have learnt some of the lessons regarding A I. Organisations in t he U K such a s D o t e v e r y o n e 1 h av e p r o d u c e d out sta nd i ng work on Respon sible Technology.2 Furthermore, the European Commission’s expert AI group, consisting of globally renowned AI academics, has recently finished consulting on its draft ethical guidelines for AI.3 It lays out the guidelines around building human trust in AI, and builds cross-border frameworks that regulation needs if it is to be effective in a world of multinational tech companies. While there are genuine concerns about the negative aspects of AI it should not be forgotten that there are potential benefits that could revolutionise the way we live – for the better. If we implement AI into everyday life, in an ethical and robust way, it is no exaggeration to say that it could be an incredibly liberating force for the world, giving people better health, more wealth and time to do the things they enjoy. But with something this important, it is incumbent on governments and those working in technology to get it right the first time. Read more at businessandindustry.co.uk
1: doteveryone.org.uk/ 2: doteveryone.org.uk/press-events/responsible-tech-2019/ 3: ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/ai-alliance-consultation
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