12 Accepted

Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of UK regulators' capacity and powers for AI implementation.

Recommendation
The AI white paper is right to highlight the importance of regulatory capacity to the successful implementation of its principles. The Government should, as part of its implementation of its proposals, undertake a gap analysis of the UK’s regulators, which considers not only resourcing and capacity, but whether any regulators require new powers to implement and enforce the principles outlined in the AI white paper.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for regulatory capacity and is working with regulators to ensure they have the necessary skills, expertise, and powers. They are establishing a central regulatory coordination function to identify overlaps and gaps in remits, and have announced a multi-agency advice service (DRCF AI and Digital Hub) to support innovators.
Paragraph Reference
104
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
As part of our work to establish the UK’s AI regulatory framework, we are working closely with a range of regulators to make sure they have the skills, expertise and powers to deliver on our approach. We have also been engaging regulators to ensure that they are equipped to manage risks relating to AI, with multiple regulators beginning to take action in line with our proposed AI framework. We are in the process of establishing a range of central support functions to enable regulators to understand the emerging risks and challenges posed by developments in AI. This includes a central regulatory coordination function, which, once established, will coordinate across regulators to identify potential overlaps and gaps in regulatory remits and support regulators in implementing the regulatory principles for AI. Through this function we will put appropriate governance structures in place to support exchange of information and will produce guidance to regulators to support them in their activity. We will provide further details on the steps we are taking in this area in our forthcoming response to the white paper consultation. We are also continuing to explore options to address capability gaps within and across regulators. The AI Regulation White Paper set out potential approaches such as the creation of a common pool of expertise to support and to expand knowledge sharing between regulators. We are considering the feasibility and effectiveness of options such as this to support regulators implement the white paper principles. We have recently announced plans to work with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to establish a multi-agency advice service known as the DRCF AI and Digital Hub. The hub will act as a single source of support for innovators of AI technologies. This will reduce the burden for these innovators needing to interact with multiple regulators simultaneously. The hub will also publish case studies of how innovators have been supported, spreading learning to companies facing similar issues. This advisory service will help innovators to comply with multiple regulatory regimes, in order to accelerate the roll out new technologies whilst informing the development of the AI regulation framework.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.7 yrs
Report published 31 Aug 2023