Scotland’s AI Strategy was formally launched at the start of this week (22 March). While it is not yet clear what the strategy means specifically for law firms, at leading firm Brodies, IT director Damien Behan observes that the formalised strategy can only be a good thing in the wider business world.
Brodies has already published a blog looking at what the strategy means for the development of AI in Scotland. You can read that blog here and the key points are below.
The strategy was developed by the Scottish Government and local innovation centre The Data Lab.
AI is an area where Scotland ‘punches above its weight.’ A number of Scottish universities are recognised as global leaders in AI plus Scotland is home to a number of start-ups and high-growth companies focussed on leveraging AI across a range of sectors, including health and financial services. FYI: Professor Burkhard Schafer, lecturer in computational theory at the University of Edinburgh spoke at #GlenLegal: https://legaltechnology.com/gleneagles-thanks-for-all-the-snow/
Development of the strategy was directed by a steering committee chaired by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, and comprised of members from across various industries. It was informed by five working groups of data experts.
Under the strategy, the ‘AI Alliance’ will collaborate with other groups worldwide, and publish an AI Playbook to share best practice and effective uses of AI.
Alongside the strategy, a new funding programme has been announced to support AI and data-driven innovation.
The roadmap is divided into the first 100 days, the first year, and the second year and beyond. The first 100 days will see the AI Alliance established and begin work on the AI playbook. The Alliance will spend the first year auditing Scotland’s AI ‘ecosystem’. It will formulate a plan to engage talent, businesses and investors in Scotland and beyond with an interest in AI. This is where law firms can no doubt get involved. In the second year it will aim to provide access to data for use in research and innovation. In the public sector, we’re told it will accelerate use of common digital and data standards, and create a register of trusted algorithms for use. It will encourage ‘innovative procurement’ to increase the uptake of AI in this sector.
The strategy can be found in full at the Scotland’s AI Strategy website: https://www.scotlandaistrategy.com/scotlands-ai-strategy-the-actions-we-will-take
Caroline.hill@legalitlexicon.com