AI model access for safety research

#41 —

Defence Committee

Recommendation: The Government should work with the US and Australian Governments to integrate research and development in AI between the UK and its AUKUS allies. This could include establishing multinational research centres and fora to normalise collaboration between the countries’ AI …

Report: Government response published

#39 —

Defence Committee

Recommendation: Pillar 2 of the AUKUS partnership is a generational opportunity for UK defence to work alongside allies at the frontier of new technologies, including AI, that can transform the future of defence. The ability for UK AI companies to develop …

Report: Government response published

#30 —

Defence Committee

Recommendation: MOD should address the barriers which currently prevent smaller AI companies from using defence data and so inhibit them from bringing value to defence. It should do this by overcoming the delays companies face in obtaining security clearance for their …

Report: Government response published

#28 —

Defence Committee

Recommendation: Defence collects masses of data that could potentially be used to train defence AI models, but this data is not always easily accessible to those developing defence software. To some extent this is an inevitable challenge when working with sensitive …

Report: Government response published

#21 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: We do not recommend using an ‘off the shelf’ LLM or developing one from scratch: the former is too risky and the latter requires high-tech R&D efforts ill-suited to Government. But commissioning an LLM to high specifications and running it …

Report: Government response published

#8 —

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Longer term, the ONS must still evolve to address the pressures it faces, including the need to make greater use of administrative data, the difficulties of relying on traditional surveys, demands for new data in policy responses, and the impact …

Report: Government response awaited

#33 —

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Recommendation: We appreciate that the definition of sovereignty will differ by sector and by degree. However, the general lack of clarity on definitions and objectives complicates research and development planning and investment. The UK has a strong base of talent and …

Report: Government response published

#45 — Insufficient details provided on access to dedicated AI Research Resource and supercomputer cluster.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s moves to establish a dedicated AI Research Resource and a cluster of supercomputers but are concerned that it has yet to set out further details of how researchers and startups will be able to access the …

Report: Government response published

#26 — Confirm models the AI Safety Institute could not access and name refusing developers.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The Government should also confirm which models the Institute has been unable to secure access to, and the reason for this. If any developers have refused access— which would represent a contravention of the reported agreement at the November 2023 …

Report: Government response published

#24 — AI Safety Institute's limited access to unreleased models undermines safety testing capabilities.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: However, we are concerned by suggestions that the Institute has been unable to access as-yet unreleased AI models to perform the pre-deployment safety testing it was set up to undertake. If true, this would undermine the delivery of the Institute’s …

Report: Government response published

#28 — Require generative AI providers to share internal data with independent online safety researchers.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: Principle 5 is crucial for addressing potential harms from generative AI, as there is currently a serious shortfall in transparency and oversight of the platforms and systems that allow users to create AI-generated content. The government should require providers of …

Report: Government response published

#9 — Commission independent research into social media algorithms amplifying harmful content with full data access

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: There is a shortfall in data needed to accurately analyse the scale of the problem and identify policy solutions. In line with our Principle 4, the government should commission a large-scale research project into how far social media recommendation systems …

Report: Government response published

#7 — Social media technology is insufficiently transparent and accessible to public authorities

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The technology used by social media companies should be transparent, explainable and accessible to public authorities, as stated in our Principle

Report: Government response published

#43 —

Defence Committee

Recommendation: The UK has the potential to be home to a first-class defence AI sector, but at present the sector is under-developed and requires cultivation by MOD. Improving the digital infrastructure, skills base and security clearance situation will help, but the …

Report: Government response published

#14 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: Developing a public interest news generative AI tool is one option the BBC could explore as it seeks to keep pace with new technologies and changing consumer habits. This might involve a service that is designed to improve public access …

Report: Government response published

#11 —

Human Rights (Joint Committee)

Recommendation: Government should encourage the development of AI use cases which can demonstrably improve human rights. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62) Legal and policy framework

Report: Government response awaited

#46 — Publish AI Research Resource action plan and undertake National Compute Cluster feasibility study.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The Government, or its successor administration, should publish an action plan and proposed deliverables for both the AI Research Resource and its cluster of supercomputers, and further details of the terms under which researchers and innovative startups will be able …

Report: Government response published

#44 — Facilitate UK AI startups' access to anonymised public datasets through a National Data Bank.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The Government and future administrations should support the emergence of more AI startups in the UK by ensuring they can access the high-quality datasets they need to innovate. This could involve facilitating access to anonymised public data from data.gov.uk, the …

Report: Government response published

#32 — Scientific research and development are crucial for advancing AMR diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Taking advantage of scientific research and developments will be very important in addressing the threat of AMR. Research and development can improve tools such as diagnostics to improve prescribing of antimicrobials, as well as producing new antimicrobials and vaccines.82 It …

Report: Government response published

#6 — Mandate health bodies to keep updated on scientific AMR developments and fund vital research.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: It is vital that government keeps up to date with scientific developments that might help tackle the threat of AMR. Research can help identify better ways of mitigating AMR and treating those with AMR infections, including through the use of …

Report: Government response published

#50 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: The scope and benchmarks for high-risk high -impact testing should involve a combination of metrics that can adapt to fast-moving changes. They should be developed by the AI Safety Institute through engagement with industry, regulators and civil society. It is …

Report: Government response published

#17 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: Equitable access will be key. UK Research and Innovation and DSIT must ensure that both researchers and SMEs are granted access to high-end computing facilities on fair terms to catalyse publicly beneficial research and commercial opportunity.

Report: Government response published

#4 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: The Government should make market competition an explicit policy objective. This does not mean backing open models at the expense of closed, or vice versa. But it does mean ensuring regulatory interventions do not stifle low-risk open access model providers.

Report: Government response published

#23 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: Witnesses were clear that the UK’s universities are one of its strengths, and that universities will continue to play an important role in UK AI development and leadership. Steps taken to implement the recommendations of the 2023 Independent Review of …

Report: Government response published

#16 —

Communications and Digital Committee

Recommendation: The Government’s long-term compute strategy should set out as soon as possible, and certainly by the proposed “spring 2025” deadline, how it will deliver the broad range of computing resources required by AI scaleups, including high-end computing facilities. AI scaleups …

Report: Government response published

#13 —

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The government should set out how it intends to protect its sovereignty in AI, in particular, in the face of fast-changing geopolitical and technological developments. The government should work with industry and academia to define sovereign capability for the five …

Report: Government response published

#12 —

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The US’s decision to restrict some advanced AI models should be a powerful reminder to the UK government that it may not be able to count even on its allies for access to technologies. Leverage may not be enough to …

Report: Government response published

#34 —

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Recommendation: The Government should provide a clear, written definition of what a sovereign capability is, including different levels of sovereignty. The Government should also outline which specific existing and emerging technologies it is seeking to develop, and to what level of …

Report: Government response published

#5 —

Home Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Former Chief Constable Guildford was not informed ahead of giving oral evidence on 6 January that Microsoft Copilot AI had been used to generate the erroneous information about a match between West Ham and Maccabi Tel Aviv. On this basis …

Report: Government response published

#50 — Utilise best-suited AI models for public sector deployment when procuring solutions.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: When procuring AI models for deployment in the public sector the Government and public bodies should utilise those best suited to the task.

Report: Government response published

#40 — Dominance of leading AI developers stifles free and open competition in the market

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: At the so-called ‘frontier’ of AI a small group of leading developers are responsible for and accruing significant benefits from the development of advanced models and tools—thanks in part to their ability to access the necessary training data. This potential …

Report: Government response published

#37 —

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The Government should prioritise the diffusion and adoption of innovation and technologies across the UK. This will require greater emphasis on building skills for smaller businesses; increased advice and support on regulatory matters for smaller businesses; making finance available to …

Report: Government response published

#41 — Require CMA to identify and address abuses of market power by AI developers

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: As the regulator responsible for promoting competitive markets and tackling anti- competitive behaviour, the CMA should identify abuses of market power and use its powers to stop them. This could take the form of levying fines or requiring the restructuring …

Report: Government response published

#25 — Confirm models tested by AI Safety Institute, testing details, findings, and developer changes.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: In its response to this Report, the Government should confirm which models the AI Safety Institute has undertaken pre-deployment safety testing on, the nature of the Governance of artificial intelligence (AI) 55 testing, a summary of the findings, whether any …

Report: Government response published

#16 — NHS Resolution exploring AI to analyse negligence claims data for insights.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Some clinical negligence firms are reportedly using artificial intelligence to triage claims more efficiently and effectively. NHS Resolution holds almost 30 years of experience and data concerning compensation claims.33 NHS Resolution told us it is starting to explore how technology …

Report: Government response published

#25 —

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Natural England told us it has made progress in improving its guidance through adding real-life case studies so that businesses can understand what they need to do to comply.66 Defra also explained it has piloted the use of AI tools …

Report: Government response published

#19 — Mandate deposition of research data in open-access repositories and encourage FAIR principles

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: Journals should collectively encourage researchers to employ the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse of digital assets) principles within their research and should mandate the deposition of research data in open- access repositories alongside the publication of research outputs.

Report: Government response published

#18 — Mandate researchers to share open-source data and code alongside all published outputs

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: Currently, research outputs are frequently published without an associated link through to their open-source data and code. This prevents other researchers assessing work for its reproducibility. In all bar the most exceptional ethical and legal situations, researchers should share their …

Report: Government response published

#17 — Implement 100% open access policies for scientific outputs by UKRI and funders by 2025

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The trend towards blanket open access in the communication of scientific outputs is positive. UKRI and other research funders should continue to implement open access policies until this figure reaches 100%, by the end of 2025 at the latest.

Report: Government response published

#4 — AI technology offers transformative potential for medical research, drug development, and personalised medicine.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The ability of AI models and tools to process substantial volumes of data, and rapidly identify patterns where human researchers might take months or be unable to, makes it a potentially transformational technology for medical research. Either through the development …

Report: Government response published

#56 — Commission a review into AI's future skills and employment consequences, including retraining for automation.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The current Government, or its successor, should commission a review into the possible future skills and employment consequences of AI, along the lines of the 2017 Taylor Review of modern working practices which examined the landscape, suggested ideas for debate …

Report: Government response published

#49 — AI marketplace requires diversity to support both open and closed-source models.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The open-source approach has underpinned many technological breakthroughs, including the Internet and AI. Whilst some providers of products and services, such as AI models and their applications, will want to keep elements of their offerings proprietary, a healthy AI marketplace …

Report: Government response published

#3 —

Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee

Recommendation: Mr Gurr told us that fiscal constraints mean the CMA cannot expect to hire more people, and it must therefore make the most of those they have. Its 4P transformation programme is vital to achieving this, and he also pointed …

Report: No government response linked; deadline passed

#20 — Continued emphasis on data management plans as a condition of research funding is necessary

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: We welcome UKRI’s use of data management plans. A continued emphasis on their importance as a condition of research funding is necessary.

Report: Government response published

#6 — AI offers benefits for teachers and pupils, but raises assessment questions for coursework.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: The benefits for time-pressed teachers using AI models and tools to help prepare lesson plans are clear, and increased availability of personalised learning and tutoring tools could benefit many pupils. However, widespread use of AI raises questions about the nature …

Report: Government response published

#3 — AI models demonstrate transformative potential in healthcare diagnostics and professional time-saving.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: AI models and tools can transform healthcare provision, by assisting with diagnostics and, perhaps more significantly, freeing up time for the judgement of medical professionals by automating routine processes.

Report: Government response published

#42 — High-quality input data is crucial for effective AI models and tools

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: AI models and tools rely on access to high-quality input data. The phrase ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is not new, but it is particularly applicable to AI.

Report: Government response published

#7 — Prioritise equipping children with digital literacy and critical engagement skills for ubiquitous AI.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: Education policy must prioritise equipping children with the skills to succeed in a world where AI is ubiquitous: digital literacy and an ability to engage critically with the information provided by AI models and tools.

Report: Government response published

#5 — AI tools already provide useful time-saving benefits for education professionals and students.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: AI tools are already useful time-savers for education professionals, and whilst reliable data is hard to come by, it seems highly likely that the technology is this generation of students’ calculator or smartphone.

Report: Government response published

#2 — AI as a tool, not sentient machines, guided by human instruction.

Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Recommendation: Nevertheless, the technology should not be viewed as a form of magic or as something that creates sentient machines capable of self-improvement and independent decisions. It is akin to other technologies: humans instruct a model or tool and use the …

Report: Government response published