News feature THE SUMMIT IN PICTURES
Around 100 businesspeople accepted an invitation to hear expert analysis of the key outcomes of the Milton Keynes offices of AI software specialist Aiimi to discuss the likely next steps in a technological
Education begins now to bridge the AI skills gap
E World political and tech industry leaders gather at Bletchley Park for the AI Safety Summit
Elon Musk, owner of X formerly known as Twitter, and former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - now Facebook’s president of global affairs - were among the delegates at the summit. Above: Michelle Donelan, the UK government’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
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Business MK | December 2023
ducation of individuals and businesses is the next important stage in the integration of AI into modern life, a panel discussion at the AI Summit Decrypted event heard. Its progress is inevitable and businesses are already starting to include AI modelling in their planning and operations. But skills levels may struggle to keep pace with the technology’s evolution and development, which must be addressed. Education establishments need to deliver AI literacy to their students and businesses must be ready to capitalise on the benefits the technology offers now and in the future. Speaking to an audience of around 100 businesspeople at the AI Summit Decrypted event, hosted by software company Aiimi at its head office in Central Milton Keynes, panel member Professor Paul Morrissey - a technology entrepreneur and policy adviser in the House of Lords - said: “The summit has been great but having the understanding
is really important. We should be putting education first, educating people what AI is about.” John Higgins, chair of the Global Digital Foundation and a former chair of the British Computer Society, added: “Businesses are starting to think about how they can build AI into their day to day operations and decision-making and make sure that it is as low-risk and as compliant as possible. AI is another risk they need to manage.” Education is a key part of that, said panel member Jack Lawton, Aiimi’s AI solutions architect. Businesses are turning to AI generative models to improve their operations. “That is impossible to stop,” Mr Lawton said. “We need to educate people on these models and how they work and to not just blindly trust them.” Professor Morrissey said: “We are in for a skills gap. It is inevitable but we need to start looking at the level of education we need to bridge that gap.” Added Dr Monika Manolova, scientific projects advisor at MKAI - a development
agency and worldwide community of technology stakeholders supporting the development, deployment and governing of emerging new technologies including Artificial Intelligence: “It is a gap that needs to be addressed because it is quite significant.” Their concerns and the solutions required to remedy them are also on
The new art of the possible. But safety must come first
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enior executives at Aiimi believe that AI can be “the new art of the possible” if used safely but must be carefully regulated and managed in order to bring the maximum benefit to businesses and individuals. “Our stance is that it is a force for good,” chief executive Steve Salvin told guests at the company’s AI Summit Decrypted event staged hours after the summit at Bletchley Park closed. “It is unstoppable and we must embrace it.” He said that AI will develop to enable faster and more accurate decision-making and will allow users to ask questions and get the answers they require. The AI Safety Summit focused on regulation, control and compliance. “We are all really worried about how this really powerful capability in the hands of a few organisations will be leveraged,” Mr Salvin said.
“It is really important.” Aiimi director Gillian Baker reflected on the “massive” investment in AI technology. “It is here, it is here to stay and it is now about how we manage it,” she said. S e n i o r data scientist Reece Cook stressed the risks involved with AI. He spoke of interference in elections and other “unpredictable advances”. “There will be areas that AI will unlock that we have not seen before,” he added. “Society will have to adapt and move faster but it is difficult to forecast what is going to happen over the next ten years.” Strict and clear regulations and controls should be put in place now to ensure society reaps the benefits of AI safely. AI companies have
Gillian Baker assesses the opportunities created and risks to be managed from AI. Left: Aiimi chief executive Steve Salvin made progress in developing their own internal safety policies but that must be backed up at national and international level, particularly in respect of cyber security, said Aiimi’s senior data consultant Sneha Eashwer Singhraj. “Government must play a crucial role in setting standards and regulations. National policy makers hold a vital role in shaping regulations and government must collaborate across regions so they can confront global challenges and share
resources.” International understanding is also key, she added. “The focus on responsibility, policy and regulation is key in order to address the fear. It all depends on the policy makers to develop a plan that will ensure safety and accessibility for all.” Mr Salvin and Ms Baker both said that AI is an opportunity to be seized. “The challenge is now about how we control and optimise the use of this technology,” Ms Baker said. “We must have the imagination to look at the
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