Adam Johnston

Insightful article from James Shore. Indeed, the industry as a whole is suffering from Goodhart's Law. "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure" We have so much data. So much compute and storage capacity. So many ways to build formulas and call them "performance metrics". And predictably, smart individuals will just focus on moving the needle. (btw - nice to see so many XP'ers at OpenSesame) https://lnkd.in/gGM3C674

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Open Response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan The DataKirk, Scotland’s grassroots organisation for promoting data literacy and analytics training, and digital inclusion, welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of the £14 billion AI Opportunities Action Plan. The plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for accelerating AI adoption across the UK, fostering innovation, and cultivating a skilled workforce to drive economic growth and improve public services. At the DataKirk, we are committed to ensure no one is left behind in the UK AI ecosystem. Through programmes such as our upcoming #GEN-AI AfterSchool Club, we aim to inspire and equip people, particularly those from minority, low-income, and migratory backgrounds with the skills and confidence to actively participate in the AI economy. Initiatives like these bridge the gap between policy aspirations and grassroots action, ensuring equitable access to the opportunities AI offers. By working together, we can ensure that this technology is used to benefit society, create a more prosperous future for all, and solidify the UK's position as a global leader in AI innovation. Richard Lochhead Manira Ahmad Albert King Abel Aboh Linda Scott Susan Lechelt Kasia Kokowska (MCIPR) Louise Drumm Tom Kane Maxwell Chipulu Tom Wilkinson Steph Wright Richard Edwards Carolyne Thomson Heather Thomson DataKirk Chuks Ododo Odunayo Ogunsanwo Azeem Adeyemi Nimat Jimoh-Umaru The National Robotarium Stewart Miller Peter Kyle Keir Starmer Kameron Bowstead

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The UK has officially “gone all in” with AI. Earlier today, the UK Government announced their approval of the “AI Opportunities Action Plan”, written by Matt Clifford. And that is all 50 recommendations approved for implementation (read here: https://lnkd.in/etrBAyxm) The vision is clear: transform the UK from an AI adopter to an AI builder. (Which, in my opinion, is about time…) The UK government estimates this could add £400B to our economy by 2030. Here's how ⇊ ✅ Infrastructure Revolution ↳ 20x increase in AI compute capacity ↳ New AI Growth Zones, starting at Culham ↳ Next-gen nuclear power integration for sustainable AI ✅ Talent & Education Transformation ↳ Major expansion of AI education programs ↳ New flagship AI scholarship initiative ↳ Support for business upskilling programs ✅ Business Support Framework ↳ "Scan > Pilot > Scale" approach for AI implementation ↳ Dedicated AI Sector Champions in key industries ↳ New AI Knowledge Hub for resources and guidance My take, as someone in the AI upskilling space: The ambition is impressive. Training "tens of thousands" of AI professionals by 2030 isn't just about technical education – it's about creating people who can bridge the gap between AI capabilities and business value. What's encouraging? The focus on practical implementation over pure technical knowledge. The plan recognises we need both technical experts AND professionals who can translate AI into business results. The challenge? Building technical infrastructure is one thing; building human infrastructure is another entirely. The businesses that start upskilling their teams now will be best positioned to capitalise on what's coming. And this is something that will continue to drive my work with Edvance AI. 2025 will be a big year for AI - this is just the beginning. #artificialintelligence #upskilling #education

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Very useful for decision maker.

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Most companies don’t yet seem to be implementing #AI correctly in their recommendation features. #Amazon is suggesting I buy a mouse (I’ve just bought one), and #LinkedIn thinks I should watch the new #Jaguar advert (couldn’t be further from what interests me). As is often the case, #Technology speeds ahead, but proper #Implementation lags far behind. #CustomerExperience

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If Britain genuinely executes on the AI promise that PM talked about today i.e. let entrepreneurs focus on creating AI products rather than worrying about legistation, then in my opinion, AI regulation free from EU influence could be the turning point that shifts Brexit's impact from net negative to net positive for the UK. PM Quote- "I know there are different approaches around the world but we are now in control of our regulatory regime so we will go our own way (AI) on this. We will test and understand AI before we regulate it to make sure that when we do it, it's proportionate and grounded."

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https://lnkd.in/eWK3ZVsM RAGs have become the standard architecture for providing LLMs with context in order to avoid hallucinations. However even RAGs can suffer from hallucination, as is often the case when the retrieval fails to retrieve sufficient context or even retrieves irrelevant context that is then weaved into the LLM’s response.

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Building responsible #AI in the UK government Experts weigh in on how to navigate the challenge of building responsible AI in the UK government. https://lnkd.in/exT4YyKJ #data #thinkdata #genai Iain Brown Ph.D. SAS Laura Petrone GlobalData Plc Dr. Shruti Kohli (Ph.D. - Machine Learning) I Author I Speaker I Mentor DWP Digital

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Google DeepMind launched Gemma 2, an open large language model available in 9 billion (9B) and 27 billion (27B) parameter versions. It outperforms larger models, providing cost-effective deployment options. Core Innovations Gemma 2 features sliding window attention, soft-capping, and knowledge distillation. Integration and Compatibility Gemma 2 integrates seamlessly with major AI frameworks, supporting Hugging Face Transformers, JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow via Keras 3.0. It runs efficiently on various hardware, from gaming laptops to cloud setups. Deployment and Access Developers can access Gemma 2's model weights from Kaggle and Hugging Face. Starting next month, deployment on Vertex AI will be available, with model integration options in Google AI Studio and local environments using Gemma.cpp. Safety and Evaluation Google DeepMind implemented rigorous safety measures, including data filtering and comprehensive testing, to mitigate biases and risks in Gemma 2. Academic Support The Gemma 2 Academic Research Program offers Google Cloud credits for research use, with applications open through August 9.

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With the UK public sector, how will members of the public have a consistent experience if each public sector body interprets these principles differently? Those are the 10 principles in the Generative AI Framework for HMG. Principle 1: You know what generative AI is and what its limitations are Principle 2: You use generative AI lawfully, ethically and responsibly Principle 3: You know how to keep generative AI tools secure Principle 4: You have meaningful human control at the right stage Principle 5: You understand how to manage the full generative AI lifecycle Principle 6: You use the right tool for the job Principle 7: You are open and collaborative Principle 8: You work with commercial colleagues from the start Principle 9: You have the skills and expertise needed to build and use generative AI Principle 10: You use these principles alongside your organisation’s policies and have the right assurance in place https://lnkd.in/eDXvWrKf These are largely common sense—they are principles. The issue is that each organisation is likely to interpret these differently, which is good as each context is different. However, in the context of the public sector, how will members of the public have a consistent experience if each public sector body interprets these principles differently? #ai #aiethics #publicsectorai #generativeai

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🎄 It's Christmas every day for #ai professionals it seeems & Google waited all year it seems to drop all of the announcements. 🤯 There is so much to share, but for now, I'm testing #vertex + #google #gemini on #googlecloud to summarise #Youtube how to vidoes on Docker development to make some SOPs to help me and my code assistant AIs lcoally to build out some new features for our AI-Advantage chat & automation platforms, plugins for your browser & integrations with #microsoft and #googleworkspace!!!! I can already hear my dev team, before you comment (but feel free to burn me in the comments) I know..... #Docker won't scale on our hosting like #Kubernetes BUT, Docker stops me breaking my whole OSX environment 😂 Twin Global Solutions Pty Ltd. Hey team, looking forward to talking to your Google experts about how we leverage your amazing Google skills with all these news Vertex and Gemini capabilites!

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Looking forward to meeting everyone next week. It promises to be a day full of great talks on how lots of us are using AI across range of topics. See you there! #AI #EthicalAI #DataScience #DigitalTransformation #Data #publicsector

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📢 This is what happens when you give away your data – you lose control over how far it can go. Recent news reveals that Meta plans to use user data from Facebook in the UK and Ireland to train its AI algorithms. This move raises important questions about data privacy and how personal information is being used beyond its original purpose. 🤔 As users, we often share our data without fully understanding the consequences or how it may be leveraged in the future. With the rise of AI and the increasing demand for data, the line between innovation and privacy becomes more blurred. 🔍 It’s crucial to stay informed and take ownership of your data. What are your thoughts on how companies like Meta should handle our data? Is this the future we signed up for? #DataPrivacy #AI #UserRights #Meta #Facebook #AITraining #UserData https://lnkd.in/deUaqK8g

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🇬🇧 UK to go 'all-in' on AI The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled his Government's AI Opportunity Action Plan today - pledging 20-fold increase in compute power, new AI Growth Zones, and a pivot from safety-first to growth-oriented strategy. This marks a recognition that we're living through the fastest period of technological transformation in human history. The focus on improving efficiency in the public sector is particularly promising. As Alexander Iosad, director of government innovation at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, notes, AI could "help take care of drudgery in the public sector", helping retain more staff who are currently "overwhelmed and overworked". At Untrite, we've seen this firsthand. Building AI solutions for Emergency Services, our team has spent countless hours in police control rooms, witnessing both the challenges and the immense potential for transformation. Our work with Humberside Police has shown that when forward-thinking public sector leaders embrace innovation, the results are transformative - 29% faster response times, better decision-making, and ultimately, better public services. For too long, public servants have navigated multiple outdated systems while making split-second decisions that affect people's lives. As our CTO Kuba Misiorny often says, "Technology is easy" - the real challenge lies in changing how people work with it. Historically, complex bureaucracy and procurement made it impossible for new players with fresh ideas to stand a chance. This is where the government's plan shows real promise, recognising that transformation requires more than just computing power. It's about fundamentally reimagining how our public services can better serve citizens, attract and retain talent (wherever it may be from), and allow for innovation through trial and error. We're at a crossroads where the opportunities for meaningful change have never been greater, and the risks of falling behind never more severe. The UK has chosen to be a change-maker rather than a change-taker. Untrite is incredibly proud to be supporting the UK Home Office and its allies in the application of this transformative technology. Now it's up to us - the builders, the innovators, and our public sector partners - to turn this vision into reality. Onwards. #PublicSector #UKTech #PublicSafety #EmergencyServices #Innovation #FutureofWork #AI

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It is still unclear what if any changes to the law and regulations will be required. It is an interesting area to look at control by laws versus the benefits of a more liberal approach.

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