Alan Turing Institute: Understanding artificial intelligence ethics and safety

“A remarkable time of human promise has been ushered in by the convergence of the ever-expanding availability of big data…”

The Alan Turing Institute's 2019 publication provides comprehensive guidance on the responsible design and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. Authored by Dr. David Leslie, it identifies potential harms associated with AI technologies and recommends measures to mitigate them, emphasizing ethical considerations, transparency, and the need for algorithmic decisions to be interpretable and understandable to both users and those affected. The report underscores the importance of fostering a culture of responsible innovation within public sector organizations.

A central feature of the publication is the Process-Based Governance (PBG) Framework, which integrates ethical principles throughout the AI project lifecycle, from design to deployment and evaluation. The framework provides practical guidance for applying ethical values at every stage, helping organizations ensure AI systems are safe, fair, and trustworthy. By adopting the PBG Framework, public sector entities can enhance ethical integrity, promote accountability, and build public trust while maximizing the positive societal impact of AI technologies.