1. An overview of the UK region and the Development of AI Legal Policy on the global map

a. An overview of the UK region

The UK, consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is a developed country known for its historical significance and modern influence in politics, culture, and economics globally. It features a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.

The UK is a significant player in international commerce, renowned for its diverse and sophisticated economy. It is one of the world's largest financial centers, with London often ranked alongside New York as a global financial hub. The UK's trade landscape is characterized by a strong service sector, including financial services, professional services, and technology. Currently, the UK region is focusing financial resources on AI to continue using AI in the process of promoting and developing the economy.

b. The development of AI Legal Policy on the global map:

In 2017: The UK Digital Strategy published in March 2017 recognises AI as key to help grow the United Kingdom’s digital economy. In October 2017, the government published an industry-led review on the United Kingdom’s AI industry. The report identifies the UK as an international center of AI expertise, in part as a result of pioneering computer scientists such as Alan Turing. The UK government published its Industrial Strategy identifies AI as one of four “Grand Challenges” to place the UK at the forefront of industries of the future and ensure it takes advantage of major global changes.

In 2018: The UK government established the Office for Artificial Intelligence (OAI) to implement the Sector Deal and promote broader adoption of AI. Alongside this, the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation was created to enhance the governance of data-driven and AI technologies, ensuring innovation aligns with public confidence. This Centre provides independent advice on necessary measures for ethical and innovative technology applications and planned to initiate a data trust pilot by the end of 2019. An AI Council with industry experts also supports the OAI’s efforts.

In 2020: Launch of the national AI strategy aimed at positioning the UK as a leader in ethical AI. Published in September 2020, sets out UK government’s vision to harness the power of responsible data use to boost productivity, create new businesses and jobs, improve public services, support a fairer society, and drive scientific discovery, positioning the UK as the forerunner of the next wave of innovation.

In 2021: Release of an AI Roadmap by the AI Council recommending specific governance frameworks. This roadmap outlines strategic recommendations for the UK’s approach to AI governance, focusing on enhancing the UK’s AI sector’s growth while ensuring ethical standards are maintained.

In 2023: The UK government outlined its approach to AI governance through its White Paper, A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation . It includes five cross-sectoral principles to guide and inform the responsible development and use of AI in all sectors of the economy.

2. Introduction to AI Assurance in the UK

The term "assurance" originally comes from accounting but now applies to other areas like cyber security and quality management. Assurance involves checking and confirming the reliability of systems or organizations. For AI, assurance means making sure AI systems are trustworthy by testing and showing that they are reliable and safe. This helps organizations feel confident about using AI technologies without worrying about them failing or causing damage. AI assurance not only ensures that systems are built ethically from the start but also builds confidence in AI systems through measuring and evaluating reliable, standardized, and accessible evidence about their capabilities. It measures whether they will work as intended, hold limitations, and pose potential risks, as well as how those risks are being mitigated to ensure that ethical considerations are built-in throughout the AI development lifecycle. AI assurance aims to provide the basis for consumers to trust the products they buy, enable industry investment, and allow regulators to monitor compliance while fostering innovation.

3. AI Assurance Mechanism, Justified Trust (highlights of AI Assurance)

a. AI Assurance Mechanism

AI assurance involves a variety of mechanisms used throughout the AI lifecycle, ranging from qualitative to quantitative assessments. For instance, qualitative assessments handle uncertainties and potential societal impacts, while quantitative assessments focus on measurable outcomes like performance metrics or legal compliance.

Key techniques include:

Risk assessment: Identifying potential risks like bias and data privacy;
Impact assessment: Evaluating broader effects on society and environment;
Bias audits: Checking for unfair biases in data or decisions;
Compliance audits: Ensuring adherence to laws and policies;
Conformity assessments: Verifying standards compliance before market introduction;
Formal verification: Confirming system requirements using mathematical proofs.

There is no single solution for AI assurance; instead, a combination of these techniques tailored to the risk level of the application is necessary. Ensuring data and system security is also crucial, as promoted by resources like the Cyber Essentials certification from the National Cyber Security Centre.

b. Justified Trust

How does AI assurance build justified trust?

There are two key problems which organizations must overcome to build justified trust:

An information problem: Organizations need to reliably and consistently evaluate whether an AI system is trustworthy to provide the evidence base for whether or not people should trust it.
A communication problem: Organizations need to communicate their evidence to other assurance users and translate this evidence at the appropriate level of complexity so that they can direct trust or distrust accordingly.

The value of assurance is overcoming both of these problems to enable justified trust.

Source: Introduction to AI Assurance, Introduction to AI Assurance

4. The potential impact of UK AI Assurance on businesses, especially technology business in Vietnam whose customers are the UK market

Complying with UK AI Assurance standards can significantly benefit Vietnamese technology businesses that have UK clients. These standards ensure that the business’s technology meets high safety and ethical criteria, which is crucial for gaining the trust of UK clients.

Having UK AI Assurance certification can set a company apart from competitors. This certification can be a key selling point, showing potential clients that the company is committed to maintaining the highest standards in AI technology.

Moreover, following UK standards may make it easier for businesses to enter other international markets that have similar requirements. This could open up new opportunities for growth and collaboration beyond the UK, helping Vietnamese technology businesses expand their global footprint.

5. Why do we need to comply and achieve certification UK AI Assurance? How can Humane AI Asia help customers?

Building trust is key to the adoption and beneficial use of AI systems. Organizations may hesitate to use AI if they’re unsure about its reliability or fear reputational harm. Similarly, consumers may avoid using data-driven technologies if they don’t trust them. Often, both consumers and organizations lack the detailed knowledge needed to fully assess these technologies themselves. Assurance plays a crucial role here: it means being confident by an independent third party, demonstrating that the AI system is dependable and trustworthy.

For businesses, especially Vietnamese technology businesses with clients in the UK market, compliance with the UK AI Assurance is essential for the following reasons:

Access to UK Market: Complying with UK AI Assurance standards enables Vietnamese businesses to enter and operate in the UK market, meeting the regulatory requirements essential for business.
Enhanced Credibility: Adherence to international standards boosts the company’s reputation globally, signaling reliability and commitment to quality.
Risk Management: Compliance helps in identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with AI technologies, such as data breaches or unethical AI behavior.
Competitive Advantage: Companies that meet UK AI standards can distinguish themselves from competitors not only in the UK but globally, appealing to clients looking for trustworthy tech partners.
Regulatory Alignment: As AI regulations evolve, keeping in line with stringent standards like those of the UK ensures that Vietnamese companies remain compliant with future international regulations and trends in AI governance.

At Humane-AI Asia, we can assist clients in achieving UK AI Assurance by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the specific standards required by UK regulations.

Educational Consulting and Training: We offer educational sessions and workshops focused on UK AI regulations and ethical standards. This training helps ensure that your team understands the necessary compliance requirements.
Risk Management Strategies: We develop and implement risk management and mitigation strategies that address potential compliance risks, ensuring that your AI applications are both safe and effective.
Strategic Advisory Services: Our strategic advisory services include guidance on integrating AI technologies in a manner that not only complies with UK standards but also leverages ethical AI practices to drive business growth and innovation.
Customized Consultation: We provide tailored consultation services to help you navigate the complexities of AI assurance, including assistance with the certification processes and audits required for UK AI Assurance.

By partnering with us, your organization can confidently meet UK standards and foster trust with your clients by demonstrating commitment to compliance and ethics in AI.