Key Takeaways
- The UK government is planning to use nationally owned material, such as Met Office data and legal documents from the National Archives, to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
- The government is providing funds for researchers to test how Met Office content can be used by AI technology, such as predicting when to buy road grit.
- The National Archives plan aims to help small businesses with legal support by making authoritative legal data AI-ready.
- The government plans to license content from national institutions, such as the National History Museum and the National Library of Scotland, for AI development.
- The UK government is pushing ahead with plans to create a national data library and a cultural data library to drive AI deployment and development.
Introduction to AI Development
The UK government is taking significant steps to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools using nationally owned material. The government is providing funds for researchers to test how Met Office data can be used by AI technology, such as predicting when to buy road grit. This initiative is part of a larger plan to drive AI deployment and development in the UK. The government believes that by using nationally owned data, it can create more accurate and reliable AI models that can benefit various industries, including small businesses and councils.
The National Archives Plan
The National Archives plan is a key component of the government’s AI development strategy. The plan aims to make authoritative legal data from the National Archives AI-ready, which can help small businesses with legal support. Ian Murray, the minister for digital government and data, believes that this plan is a "smart use of the public sector." He argues that by providing small businesses with quick and reliable answers to common legal questions, they can free up time and resources to focus on their core activities. The plan has the potential to benefit small businesses, such as cafe owners and shopkeepers, who often struggle with understanding employment law and health and safety requirements.
Data as a Key Component of AI Models
Data is a crucial component of AI models, and the UK government is aware of its importance. The government’s AI action plan, launched last year, proposed creating a national data library that would offer state-controlled data to researchers and companies. The plan also proposed creating a cultural data library that would be a "commercial proposition," meaning the government could expect to make money from the "copyright-cleared" data. The government believes that by providing access to nationally owned data, it can drive AI development and deployment in the UK.
The Creative Content Exchange
The government is pushing ahead with its plans to create a marketplace for cultural and creative assets, known as the creative content exchange. The exchange, launched in June, will allow institutions to sell, buy, license, and enable access to digitized cultural and creative assets. Under a pilot scheme, researchers will explore how to offer data from institutions, including Imperial War Museums, the National Library of Scotland, and the Natural History Museum. The scheme will explore how their digitized content can be used by consumers, technology companies, and AI developers, while respecting the rights of creators and copyright owners.
Challenges and Controversies
The government’s plans to use nationally owned data for AI development have not been without controversy. The government has been criticized for proposing that AI companies should be allowed to use copyright-protected work without first seeking artists’ permission, unless the artists indicate that they wish to "opt out." The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, has announced a "reset" on these plans, and an official review is due to be published in March. However, the government has made it clear that nationally owned data will be used as part of its policy to drive AI deployment and development.
Conclusion and Future Plans
In conclusion, the UK government is taking significant steps to develop AI tools using nationally owned material. The government’s plans to use Met Office data, legal documents from the National Archives, and other cultural and creative assets have the potential to drive AI development and deployment in the UK. While there are challenges and controversies surrounding the use of nationally owned data, the government is committed to pushing ahead with its plans. The creative content exchange and the national data library are expected to play a crucial role in driving AI development in the UK, and the government is expected to announce more details about these initiatives in the coming months.
