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Government’s new 10-year plan for AI prioritises health

The UK government has launched an AI strategy designed to boost research and improve patient outcomes

23rd September 2021 about a 3 minute read
"It’s important that we have the right ecosystems where we can carry out ground-breaking research quickly and with world-class partners.” Tony Wood, senior vice president medicinal science and technology, GSK

The government has announced a new 10-year plan for Artificial Intelligence (AI) that will help the UK to “strengthen its position as a global science superpower” and “solve global challenges such as climate change and public health.”

The strategy will see the launch of a National AI Research and Innovation Programme to improve collaboration between the UK’s researchers, with the aim of transforming the UK’s AI capabilities. Other plans include:

  • Creating a joint Office for AI (OAI) and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) programme to develop AI in sectors outside London and the South East
  • Publishing a joint review with UKRI into the availability of computing power for UK researchers to roll out AI technologies
  • Launching a consultation on copyright and patents for AI through the Intellectual Property Office
  • Piloting an AI standards hub to co-ordinate UK engagement in setting the rules globally

The application of AI to health care is a key part of the 10-year plan. AI technologies, the strategy document says, “have the potential to improve health outcomes for patients and service users, and to free up staff time for care.”

The NHS AI Lab, which came into existence in 2019, is in the process of creating a National Strategy for AI in Health and Social Care. The strategy, which is expected to launch in early 2022, “will consolidate the system transformation achieved by the Lab to date and will set the direction for AI in health and social care up to 2030,” the document says.

AI will improve diagnosis and drug discovery

Commenting on the announcement, Chris Philp, the minister for culture, media and sport, said: “Artificial intelligence technologies generate billions for the economy and improve our lives. They power the technology we use on a daily basis and help save lives through better disease diagnosis and drug discovery.”

The announcement drew support from Tony Wood, senior vice president medicinal science and technology at pharma company GSK, who said: “It’s important that we have the right ecosystems where we can carry out ground-breaking research quickly and with world-class partners.”

GSK, Wood said, was exploring the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to “uncover insights from human genetics and genomics” that would enable them to “develop more and better medicines and vaccines needed by patients in Britain and around the world.”

The implementation of the strategy would, he added, “help ensure the UK remains a leading destination for AI innovation.”

Future Care Capital has been writing about the opportunities and challenges of funding tech for health and social care.