A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation

Response to the UK Government’s 12-week consultation on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

On 29 March 2023, the UK Government launched a 12-week consultation on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This white paper, entitled ‘A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation’, is the next step after the UK Science and Technology Framework identified AI as one of five technologies critical to future economic growth.

At EY we understand that the use of AI poses new risks and accentuates old ones, including the potential for discrimination, infringement of privacy, and damage to mental and physical health — if unmanaged, these will undermine public trust.

Recognising the speed at which AI technology is moving, before legislating, the UK Government is proposing to implement a framework, based on five principles:

• Safety, security and robustness
• Appropriate transparency and explainability
• Fairness
• Accountability and governance
• Contestability and redress

Existing regulators will be responsible for managing the principles, as part of their current sectoral remit. Designed to enable innovation…