Established at the University of Cambridge in 2001, the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) works actively with the Schools and Faculties across the University undertaking collaborations that cross faculties and disciplines in order to stimulate fresh thinking and dialogue in and beyond the humanities and social sciences and to reach out to new collaborators and new publics.

As AI – notably, Machine Learning continues to expand, government departments will increasingly use this technology to deliver advanced services to the public. In their recent report Committee on Standards in Public Life concluded: "Our message to government is that the UK's regulatory and governance framework for AI in the public sector remains a work in progress and deficiencies are notable. "The work of the Office for AI, the Alan Turing Institute, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) are all commendable. But on the issues of transparency and data bias, in particular, there is an urgent need for practical guidance and enforceable regulation." In addition: "This review found that the Nolan Principles are strong, relevant, and do not need reformulating for AI. The Committee heard that they are principles of good governance that have stood, and continue to stand, the test of time.

The UK government is launching an investigation to determine the levels of bias in algorithms that could affect people's lives. A browse through our'ethics' category here on AI News will highlight the serious problem of bias in today's algorithms. With AIs being increasingly used for decision-making, parts of society could be left behind. Conducted by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), the investigation will focus on areas where AI has tremendous potential – such as policing, recruitment, and financial services – but would have a serious negative impact on lives if not implemented correctly. "Technology is a force for good which has improved people's lives but we must make sure it is developed in a safe and secure way. Our Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation has been set up to help us achieve this aim and keep Britain at the forefront of technological development. I'm pleased its team of experts is undertaking an investigation into the potential for bias in algorithmic decision-making in areas including crime, justice and financial services. I look forward to seeing the Centre's recommendations to Government on any action we need to take to help make sure we maximise the benefits of these powerful technologies for society."

Is my organisation a member? The Whitehall & Industry Group's AI Collaboration Forum will bring together a wide audience from our 230 members, spanning the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, as well as academic institutions. Supported by the Office for Artificial Intelligence and kindly hosted by EY. The agenda will explore the vital role of cross-sector collaboration to ensure the endless possibilities of AI are harnessed and regulated effectively, generating maximum positive economic and societal impacts for the UK. Holding a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sana Khareghani has over 20 years' experience in technology and business across the private and public sectors.

Diagnosing rare genetic disorders is difficult. Because cases are few and far between, it makes it harder to train medical professionals in what to look for. This is precisely the kind of activity that artificial intelligence can make easier. A new app called Face2Gene is giving doctors a second opinion on their diagnoses, using machine learning and neural networks. It looks for certain tell-tale facial features and presents doctors with a likely list of congenital and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The need for greater gender and ethnic in diversity in technology is growing from a whisper a decade ago to the roar of a world cup football goal. We can no longer ignore the injustice of a male-dominated algorithmic trade, a despicable parade of inequity and inequality. The naysayers who call out about the discrimination against white males, need to look at the facts of what Joy Boulamwini calls the coded gaze and the increases in algorithmic bias. True, having greater gender and ethnic diversity won't solve all the problems of unfairness, but it will bleed its greatest excesses. Potential imbalances are less likely to go unnoticed.

This article was co-authored by Professor Helen Margetts, Programme Director for Public Policy, and Turing Fellow; Dr Cosmina Dorobantu, Deputy Programme Director for Public Policy, and Policy Fellow; and Josh Cowls, Research Associate. If you hear about data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms in the news, it's likely to be about discriminatory practices, threats to personal privacy or national security, or another crisis created by the advance of digital technology. Sometimes these problems can feel so entrenched that they are insurmountable. But there is reason to be optimistic. As it turns out, the challenges posed by these modern fields of data science and AI can be addressed by one of the oldest: ethics.

From the Alan Turing Institute to DeepMind, the UK boasts a rich history and exciting present in machine learning and artificial intelligence research and development, led by academia and industry. According to recent research, AI is the largest commercial opportunity for Britain, projected to add £232 billion to the UK economy by 2030. SMEs and start-ups will play a significant role in grasping this. The segment highlighted by Theresa May during her speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, where she told world leaders that the UK's strong start-up scene will be instrumental in making the UK a world leader in ethical AI. However, start-ups today still need to overcome some significant challenges before reaching their full potential.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data is revolutionising both our professional and personal lives. The government has announced their intention to create a Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation which will develop actions and recommendations to ensure data and AI is used both ethically and effectively. To read more about the purpose of the new Centre and to get the link to the full consultation document please login to the Members Area.

It sounds like a script from the Netflix futuristic dystopia Black Mirror. Chatbots now ask: "How can I help you?" The reply typed in return: "Are you human?" "Of course I am human," comes the response. "But how do I know you're human?" The so-called Turing Test where people question a machine's ability to imitate human intelligence is happening right now.