Bletchley Park is set to host one of the world’s inaugural global AI summits. It marks a clear desire by the UK government to position the country as a leader in AI regulation – both in thought and geography. Whilst an ambitious goal, there appears to be some significant shortcomings in their strategy…
A primary critique of this summit is that its flagship initiative – a voluntary register of participants – lacks concrete enforcement mechanisms. In real terms, this approach hinges on the goodwill of both American and Chinese tech companies, who comprise the largest share of the AI industry.
Adding to the scepticism, leading UK companies and investors are yet to be invited to the summit. This omission has left British AI experts and executives feeling marginalised. They argue that the focus is too narrow on extreme AI scenarios, missing the more immediate risks and potential benefits of this emerging technology.
Furthermore, while global players such as the EU and US have taken solid measures to regulate the industry; the UK’s legislative agenda is comparatively behind. This undermines the core driver of the summit: to position the UK at the forefront of AI discourse.
So what does this mean for the consulting sector? A few conclusions can be drawn:
- Technology Consulting: Specialist consultancies have an opportunity here to support the development and usage of new AI technologies, whilst addressing growing concerns about misuse and risks.
- Growth Strategies & Expansion: For UK-based AI companies that feel increasingly left behind, consulting firms can assist with market entry and expansion strategies – including identification of partnership opportunities and potential investments.
- Shaping Policy: Consultancies can position themselves as valuable tool in shaping policies that bridge the gap between both the government’s objectives and the AI industry’s needs (creating new business opportunities with the public and private sector alike).
While the long-term impact of this summit remains uncertain, we can see that governments worldwide are dedicating more attention towards what is being hailed as the next watershed technology. Consulting firms that proactively align themselves with evolving international policies therefore stand to gain the most from this emerging frontier.
To find out more about the UK’s scheduled AI summit, click here.
- by John Barker