NEWSBYTE There are new opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) and automation as more and more businesses examine their supply chains after two years of Covid restrictions.
That’s according to Jade O’Leary, data scientist at Bristol-based software provider Techmodal.
Writing for industry organisation techUK during the organisation’s AI Week, O’Leary acknowledges that increasing AI uptake in low-maturity sectors will be a challenge, but notes that, with adequate support and investment from government and the private sector, the UK could emerge as a genuine AI leader.
The UK launched its National AI Strategy last September.
“Adoption of AI across business is far from widespread, and barriers to AI adoption persist, blocking entry to the technology for many sectors where AI could have real tangible impact,” writes O’Leary.
Barriers include the ability to effectively operationalise AI because of a lack of business domain and subject matter experts, a lack of qualified data scientists, engineers, and developers who can build viable data pipelines, and a lack of robust ethics and governance policies.
Despite Whitehall’s strategic focus on ethical AI operation and procurement, recent research commissioned by the government revealed that just 15 percent of firms focus on these areas in AI training.
Speaking last month at a Westminster eForum event on UK AI Strategy, Tabitha Goldstaub, Chair of the UK AI Council, noted that the UK faces significant skills challenges.
Citing the government’s own research, she said, “In one study, one-third of firms said that existing employees lack AI technical skills, and this actively prevents them from meeting business goals. Two-thirds expect that the demand for AI skills within the organisation is likely to increase in the next 12 months.
“But there’s a challenge finding talent outside the organisation. There are over 100,000 job postings in AI and data science waiting to be filled, but almost 50% of companies said that job applicants lack the necessary technical skills.”
Nonetheless, the pandemic demonstrated how AI can be quickly adopted and used for good when given the right emphasis and funding, notes O’Leary this week.
