The British Prime Minister Theresa May used her speech at the World Economic Forum on 25 January 2018 to set out her view on the part that information and communication technology (ICT) plays in modern society. During her speech she highlighted the many benefits that novel and emerging technologies are likely to create. One key technology currently widely discussed is artificial intelligence, where the UK has a leading role. The economic and societal benefits that a broader use of AI can bring are enormous.
However, AI as well as other novel ICTs can have numerous undesirable consequences. Bernd Stahl, Director of the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility at De Montfort University, commented “The downsides of new technology can range from lower employment to malicious use by hackers or terrorists, all the way up to a changing understanding of what it means to be human.”
Professor Marina Jirotka, Professor of Human Centred Computing at the University of Oxford agreed, adding “This is an admirable goal that will require significant input from a range of stakeholders. Key to its achievement will be the new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in 2017.”
ORBIT welcomes the Prime Minister’s reiterated commitment to ensuring that new technologies contribute to the public good and work for everyone, as well as the promise that her government will continue to legislate accordingly. ORBIT is looking forward to engaging with government on how to ensure the ethical development and use of ICT.