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Probably42 News - October 2021
Welcome to our October Newsletter!
We continue to make good progress in making ideas generated by Probably42 visible to politicians. This month we input feedback on the Government’s AI Strategy to the AI Council. In summary:
As a vision, the National AI Strategy is welcome and we are impressed by the huge range of activities that are already in place and recognise the importance of the three pillars in it, in relation to business. However, we believe there are two further pillars which either need to be included in the next version of the AI Strategy, or tackled separately given their importance to society. We describe these two pillars, which are interlinked, as:
- Managing the downsides and unintended consequences of AI deployment
- Using AI to improve society for the good of all
In our view it would be a contingency planning failure not to tackle the first and a missed opportunity of epic proportions not to consider the second, especially at a time when ‘levelling-up’ is central to the Government’s agenda. In regard to the second we recognise many AI benefits will percolate through to everyone, but a ‘helicopter view’ is also required, otherwise ‘society changing’ opportunities will undoubtedly be missed.
Our specific feedback and recommendations are included in the short document reproduced at: National AI Strategy – Feedback and Recommendations
Output of September Discussion
Our discussion for September was on Social Care in light of the Government’s recent announcement on the topic. You can see the output at Social Care - Building Back Better
Government Information that may interest you
This month we highlight three more examples of information on Parliament activity and outputs which may interest you:
- The future of the High Street Build Back Better: High Streets
- Everything you’ve always wanted to know about the Northern Ireland Protocol, but …… Northern Ireland Protocol
- The role of Innovation in ensuring a prosperous future UK Innovation Strategy
Forthcoming Discussion
Our discussion for October/November is a bit different ‘Is there a need for a new political party? If so what should its attributes be?’ You can see the proposed agenda at: Topic for November - Is there a need for a new political party? As ever, do send any thoughts on this topic as input to the meeting, or if you would like to attend the meeting just reply to this email and we’ll send you details.
Why not join a Group?
If you’d like to join one of the Probably42 discussion groups held via videoconferencing, just email in response to this newsletter and we’ll send you more details. We very much want a diversity of viewpoints, so you can be sure your views will be welcomed. Remember it’s about relaxed discussion and having an enjoyable time, with hopefully some useful ideas identified.
We also want to encourage face-to-face real world discussion groups, as feeders into the main online discussions. If you’d like to find out more about the one in Berkshire, or if you’d like to see one start in your area, just email in response to this newsletter and we’ll send you details.
Feedback
We always welcome any feedback, thoughts, ideas or questions about Probably42. Simply reply to this newsletter and you’ll receive a personal reply.
All the best
Tony