In a letter to the MHRA, the secretaries of state for health and social care and science, innovation and technology comment on plans to establish a regulatory framework for AI and note that a key area of feedback was “the need to ensure that regulators were taking the risks and opportunities of AI within their remits seriously”, with stakeholders seeking more information on how the framework would be interpreted and applied to regulators.
Currently the framework proposed is non-statutory, although the government’s AI Regulation White Paper notes “it may become necessary to introduce a statutory duty for regulators”.
Specifically, the letter requests that key regulators should publish an update by 30 April 2024, sharing their strategic approach to artificial intelligence along with the steps that they are taking to align with the expectations set out by the government.
Regulators are asked to outline their work to “understand, assess and manage the current and emerging risks posed by AI” in line with their remit, the potential for overlap with other regulators, any collaborations with other regulators, and share a “forward look” at their plans and activities for the next twelve months.
The final request is for an explanation of current capabilities in addressing AI-related risks, including any structure and resources currently in place, such as the number of people working on AI-related issues, budgets for AI-related activities, and any specific skills or expertise required in order to “effectively regulate AI within their sector”.
HTN covered the latest update on the government’s plans around AI regulation here, including funding for AI projects and regulators and plans to launch a “single source of truth” on AI risks.
Elsewhere, the MHRA has published its Regulatory Roadmap, intended to “protect patient safety and enable access without delay for UK patients to innovative medical technologies” including implantable devices, healthcare AI and software, and diagnostics for the early detection and prevention of disease.
