Scaling up – AI and creative tech

Scaling up – AI and creative tech: IET comments to a call for evidence by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee on 15 October 2024.

The IET has responded to a call for evidence by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee. The inquiry focusses on finding out the specific barriers to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) scaling up in AI and creative technology, and to propose changes to Government and industry practices that can be delivered over the next five years.

The IET’s overall response is that scaling up AI and creative digital technology is crucial to ensuring the UK remains competitive in global markets. It is imperative that we capitalise on the opportunities presented to us by AI and creative technologies. Utilising these opportunities will ensure the UK remains an international competitor and make the UK an attractive place to work ahead of overseas competitors. 

The IET’s recommendations are: 

• Ensuring for skill development in SMEs is included in the national approach to scaling up AI and creative digital technologies. Having a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing could help both SME’s and larger organisations develop their skillsets to better suit the implementation of AI and creative tech.
• The Skills and Growth Levy offers an opportunity to provide financial incentives or support mechanisms for SMEs to gain AI skills. Being able to use funds from this levy will enable employers to invest in upskilling and reskilling their workforce for these new technologies.
• Collaboration between academia, government and industry is crucial so that feasibility of potential solutions and the limitations of new approaches are factored in.
• International collaboration can drive success. Learning from other countries that are making advances in relevant science and technology sectors can help refine the UK’s approach to further adopting AI.
• An active, open dialogue with the public about their concerns with AI and how it is being developed is pivotal to increase public trust in the technology. Public trust in the safety of AI is paramount, and clear regulations need to be put in place that ensure it is used responsibly.