Tech entrepreneur Ian Hogarth appointed to head the UK’s AI Foundation Model Taskforce

• A prominent tech entrepreneur, esteemed investor, and expert in AI will head the Foundation Model Taskforce.
• This Taskforce is set to spearhead crucial AI safety research, promoting the responsible and trustworthy advancement of Foundation Models while harnessing their remarkable potential.
• Inspired by the success of the Vaccine Taskforce, it will function with equal agility and authority, supported by an initial £100 million in government funding.

The distinguished tech investor, entrepreneur, and AI expert Ian Hogarth has been appointed as the chair of the Government’s Foundation Model Taskforce, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and the Technology Secretary.

Ian is a leading authority on AI, having co-authored the annual State of AI report since 2018 that tracks advancements in the field. He also serves as a visiting professor at University College London and has a robust background in tech entrepreneurship as the founder of the startup Songkick and the venture capital fund Plural.

This appointment infuses a wealth of experience into the responsible development of technology, aligning with the government’s AI strategy and following the release of the AI White Paper. Ian’s extensive commercial experience and connections in the AI sector will bring invaluable insights to this position.

In the coming months, under Ian’s guidance, the Taskforce will prioritize advancing innovative safety research as the first global summit on AI safety approaches, to be hosted in the UK later this year.

The Taskforce will unify expertise from government, industry, and academia to address the risks associated with AI. It will conduct research on AI safety and contribute to broader efforts on developing international guidelines, including shared safety and security standards and infrastructure to mitigate risks.

Modelled after the successes of the Vaccine Taskforce, it will operate with the same agility and delegated authority, empowering the Chair and Taskforce to advance their agenda and make swift decisions.

Ian Hogarth, Chair of the Foundation Model Taskforce, stated:

UK scientists and entrepreneurs have significantly contributed to AI, from Alan Turing to AlphaFold. The Prime Minister has articulated an ambitious vision for the UK to accelerate efforts in AI safety—a field that has previously lacked adequate resources despite rapid advancements in AI capabilities. I’m privileged to chair this critical mission leading up to the first global summit on AI Safety in the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked:

As artificial intelligence evolves, it opens up greater opportunities to strengthen our economy and enhance public services.

With such transformative potential, we have a responsibility to ensure AI develops safely and responsibly for the benefit of future generations.

Having Ian lead our expert taskforce is a tremendous asset, given his status as a leading figure in UK tech, as he is empowered to advance our leadership in AI safety and development.

This approach will ensure we operate differently and maintain the same promptness and determination in addressing the challenges ahead.

In April, the government allocated an initial £100 million to establish the Foundation Model Taskforce, aiming to leverage the remarkable opportunities offered by advanced AI systems and enhance their safety and reliability.

<pFoundation models, including the large language models behind popular new services like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Claude, are versatile AI systems trained on extensive datasets applicable to various tasks across the economy.

Technology Secretary Chloe Smith stated:

Our Foundation Model Taskforce will guide the ethical development of cutting-edge AI technologies, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of utilizing this transformative technology for economic growth and sustainability.

With Ian onboard, the Taskforce will be ideally positioned to reinforce the UK’s leadership in AI, ensuring that British citizens and businesses have access to reliable tools to seize the numerous opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

The specialized Taskforce will foster UK capabilities in foundation models and capitalize on existing strengths, including the UK’s leadership in AI safety, research, and development, to address the distinct safety challenges posed by this class of AI.

The Taskforce’s initiatives will be crucial in capturing the advantages of AI while cultivating public trust in its applications, complementing efforts already underway within AI companies aiming for safe and responsible development. These companies have committed to granting the Taskforce priority access to models for research and safety purposes, facilitating improved evaluations and better understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with these systems.

The upcoming global AI safety summit will provide a platform for leading nations, industry, and academia to collaborate on assessing risks, exploring collective research opportunities, and establishing shared safety and security standards and infrastructure.

As President Biden has emphasized, the UK is in a prime position to take the lead in the international effort on AI safety.

Notes to editors:

• Ian Hogarth and DSIT are tasked with identifying and addressing any actual, potential, or perceived personal or business interests that may conflict or appear to conflict with the Chair’s public responsibilities. Ian has agreed to implement several mitigations to manage possible conflicts of interest, including divesting personal investments in companies developing foundation models or safety tools. These mitigations will come into effect from the start of his role.
• Regular checks and controls will also be established to adapt to the evolving scope and work program of the Taskforce.