Safe AI Innovation Needs Robust Regulation

Article by Aniqah Majid

Aniqah Majid joined industry leaders as they came together for an IChemE roundtable on AI’s use in plant operation and the role of policymakers in its future

INDUSTRY leaders have urged the UK government not to neglect legislative support in the race for advances in AI.

Digital technologies are at the forefront of the UK government’s Invest 2035 industrial strategy, a ten-year plan aimed at boosting investment in the UK’s key growth areas, including AI technology.

However, at IChemE’s recent roundtable, industry leaders highlighted the lack of regulation to inform safe practice, pointing out the need for chemical engineers to be part of the conversation to ensure future AI frameworks are fit for purpose.

The discussion focused on the use of AI and machine learning in plant operation and control and involved insights from experts in academia and industry, including Simon Rogers, the global technology pre-sales leader at KBC Global, Mehmet Mercangöz, an ABB reader in autonomous industrial systems at Imperial College London, and Vira Jogia, a process safety consultant at VRJ Consultancy.

“Do we have the right policy framework for AI to be trialled?” said another speaker, Jin Xuan, the associate dean of Research & Innovation at the University of Surrey. “I do not think it is a technology issue in the UK, it is really a policy and regulation issue.” 

Regulatory changes

Article by Aniqah Majid

Staff reporter, The Chemical Engineer

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