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Working with policy makers on the development of data-driven public services and innovation to solve policy problems, and developing ethical foundations and governance frameworks for deployment of data science and Al in public policy.

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Introduction

The Public Policy programme’s core aims are to work with policy makers to develop and innovate with AI for better governance, and to build governance frameworks for ethical and responsible AI. To meet these aims we tackle four main challenges:

 

Diagram showing the four challenges of the Public Policy programme, expanded upon in the accessible text below

AI for governance

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Use data science and artificial intelligence to inform policy-making

In a world of changing and interlinked policy measures, data science and AI can provide policy makers with unprecedented insight: from identifying policy priorities by modelling complex systems and scenarios, to evaluating hard-to-measure policy outcomes. Our aim is to equip policy makers across all levels of government with the tools they need to not only design effective public policy, but also to track and measure policy impacts.

 

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Improve the provision of public services

Governments today are major holders of data which data science and AI can harness to improve the design and provision of public services. The Public Policy Programme brings researchers and policy makers together in order to develop innovative ways to provide public services. Our aim is to change everyday life for the better: from allocating resources in the fairest and most transparent way, to designing personalised public services that are tailored to people's individual needs and situations.

 

Governance of AI

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Build ethical foundations for the use of data science and AI in policy-making

Understanding the ethical and societal implications of data science is one of The Alan Turing Institute's key research priorities. The Public Policy Programme works to develop the ethical foundations for the use of data science and AI in policy-making, with the aim of securing the benefits and addressing the risks these technologies pose. The programme also hosts a Data Ethics Group open to external members that discusses topics relating to ethics and responsible innovation.

 

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Contribute to policy that governs the use of data science and AI

The effects of data science and AI on society are already being felt, and their impact will only grow in the years to come. Our aim is to ensure that this impact is as beneficial and equitable as possible. The Public Policy Programme will work with policy makers to develop well-crafted laws and sensible regulation, using the ethical principles and norms developed by the Ethics & Responsible Innovation team that clarify the socially acceptable uses of these powerful technologies.

Our aims

The Public Policy Programme aims to provide comprehensive, trusted advice to policy makers, taking a scalable, multi-disciplinary approach, that combines agility and coherence.

Icons representing the programme's aims, with the following text: The aims of the Public Policy programme: to be a one-stop shop and a trusted adviser; to have coherence, agility and multi-disciplinarity at scale.