All AI use in public sector will have to go on record

PUBLIC bodies in Scotland are to be forced to declare if they have used artificial intelligence (AI).

A new public register north of the Border will make it mandatory for institutions, such as the NHS, to record when they use AI and in what form it was used.

In the first register of its kind in the UK, details of their activities will then be made freely available to the public.

There is growing concern about the impact AI is having on society and the problems it could create in the future, including replacing human workers. The Scottish Government said the move would improve transparency and trust in the use of the technology.

Already, an AI-powered breast cancer diagnostic tool called Mia is being piloted in NHS Grampian. It helped doctors detect 12 per cent more cancers and there are plans to roll it out to other health boards.

Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said the deployment of AI must be transparent.

He added: ‘With our worldrenowned talent for research, innovation and ingenuity, Scotland is perfectly placed to capitalise on the rapid growth of AI – but it must be used in a way that is open, ethical and transparent.

‘From cancer diagnostics to helping our net zero journey, AI is a powerful and rapidly developing tool the public sector can use to help drive efficiency and deliver solutions.

‘Making it mandatory for public sector use of AI to be registered will not only give the public increased confidence that AI is being used openly and transparently, but will also act as an increasingly powerful source of best practice, helping ensure AI is used in ways which are both economically and technically viable and makes a positive impact across society.’

Jora Gill, co-founder of ConnectingYouNow, the organisation behind the register, emphasised the value

‘Open, ethical and transparent’

of creating public access to AI use. He said: ‘We started with those with sensory loss and those who are not digital experts. We therefore understand the critical importance of fostering transparency, ethics and trust in AI development and deployment. The AI Register aligns seamlessly with our core value of enabling responsible AI adoption.

‘Being listed on the AI Register demonstrates our commitment to open collaboration and knowledge sharing to advance the safe and ethical use of AI for public good. We believe this level of transparency is essential for building public confidence and driving innovation that serves citizens’ best interests.’