UK tech infrastructure ‘inadequate’ for AI boom, study finds

The Open Data Institute (ODI) has urged Labour to deliver AI-focused policies, after finding fundamental issues with the UK’s tech ecosystem.

Research carried out by the institute found UK datasets lack the “robust” governance frameworks for a safe wide-scale adoption of AI.

The institute claimed such gaps could lead to biases and unethical practices, undermining the trust in AI applications across both the public and private sectors.

It added these risks are being “exacerbated” by the lack of transparency that is hampering efforts to address biases, remove harmful content, and ensure compliance with legal standards.

Sir Nigel Shadbolt, executive chair and co-founder of the ODI, said: "If the UK is to benefit from the extraordinary opportunities presented by AI, the government must look beyond the hype and attend to the fundamentals of a robust data ecosystem built on sound governance and ethical foundations.” 

In response to its research, the ODI has published a white paper calling for a number of legislation changes, including an update to the Intellectual Property Law, to protect the creative industries.

It has also urged Labour to introduce measures to ensure transparency on data sources, copyright, and inclusion of personal information, as well as policies to safeguard labour rights.

It also called for a broader access to high-quality to nurture an inclusive innovation marker.

The announcement comes after the King's Speech announced Labour introduced measures to target those developing the most powerful AI models yet stopped short of announcing an AI bill.