UK government throws around some ideas for AI rules - Telecoms.com

The UK Government has put forward proposals on the future regulation of AI, which would see various regulators apply six'principles' to markets which are implementing such technologies. The Government has sketched out its approach to regulating AI in a paper published today, which describes'proposed rules addressing future risks and opportunities so businesses are clear how they can develop and use AI systems and consumers are confident they are safe and robust.' It has come up with six core principles that regulators in different sectors would have to enforce, which are claims are designed to focus on supporting growth and avoiding'unnecessary barriers being placed on businesses'. Some of the applications around these rules could be about sharing information as to how businesses test AI reliability, and how any related deployments are'safe and avoid unfair bias.' Emphasis is placed on having different bodies enforce things relevant to their sectors, as opposed to what it describes as a more centralised way of keeping an eye on AI coming out of the EU – so Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Information Commissioner's Office, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency would all have to decide how to interpret and enforce rules in their respective fields. This will create'proportionate and adaptable regulation', it reckons, and regulators will be encouraged to consider'lighter touch options' which could include guidance and voluntary measures – which could presumably be ignored. There's more detail in the published paper, and the government has also invited various types in the know about AI as well as the regulators themselves to give some feedback on what it is suggesting, which will be considered alongside the development of another paper called the AI White Paper, which will explore how to put the principles into practice.