UK Government announces AI sandboxes, allowing companies to test new AI products under reduced regulations
The UK’s Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced plans to change how companies are allowed to test new AI products.
Using ‘sandboxes’, companies will be able to temporarily suspend or change regulations in key sectors such as healthcare, professional services, transport, and robotics, in a bid to accelerate the development of AI products.
Speaking at the Times Tech Summit, Kendall said: “To deliver national renewal, we need to overhaul the old approaches which have stifled enterprise and held back our innovators. We want to remove the needless red tape that slows progress so we can drive growth and modernise the public services people rely on every day.
“This isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about fast-tracking responsible innovations that will improve lives and deliver real benefits.”
Hugh Milward, Vice President External Affairs at Microsoft, added: “Widespread AI diffusion across the economy is fundamental to delivering the UK’s economic growth ambition and we welcome the government’s continued progress on the AI Opportunities Plan towards this goal.
“The AI Growth Lab is an interesting and creative initiative to provide the flexible regulatory approach that will support faster UK AI innovation and we look forward to hearing more.”
The UK Government stressed that the the sandboxes would not allow companies to turn regulations on and off at will, but would include strict time restrictions on specific regulatory hurdles.
The update is part of the wider AI Opportunities Action Plan, under which the Government plans to use AI to transform the UK’s economy across public and private sectors, aiming to transform the nation’s economy and public services while establishing the country as a global leader in AI innovation.
