Emma Taylor
Vicki Woolgar
In November 2024, 65 AI enthusiasts gathered for the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) first-ever AI conference in London. This marked a significant milestone in our journey towards harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. High on the agenda was the opportunity for participants to explore, innovate, learn and collaborate, sharing lessons from their different AI initiatives.
A diverse and engaged audience
The day brought together a diverse group of AI professionals from different DBT teams, including Digital Data and Technology (DDaT), the Industrial Strategy Unit and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). We were also joined by colleagues from our partner organisations such as the Insolvency Service, Companies House and the Competition and Markets Authority.
The mix of participants included data scientists, product managers, knowledge management support, policy advisors, and many more. This showcased the wide range of expertise and roles involved in our AI projects.
On the agenda
The conference featured a variety of sessions, starting with a panel discussion to introduce our AI approach, providing an overview of DBT's AI ambition and future plans. This was followed by a demonstration of RedBox, an AI-powered tool, to showcase practical AI applications in the department. The demonstration was led by a science capability advisor to show how they use it in their role.
Attendees also experienced an external perspective with a session on Microsoft's AI strategy with Abbie Lowe, Account Client Technology Officer. The day concluded with roundtable discussions on lessons learned and future challenges. This fostered open dialogue about the experiences and hurdles faced in AI implementation and how they have been addressed, setting the stage for future innovations.
Recurring themes from discussions
In the discussions surrounding lessons learnt, 3 major themes came through:
- Governance and planning: Early consideration of governance, timelines, and evaluation is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring long-term effectiveness. This includes setting up resourcing, managing the information risk assurance process and planning for ongoing support and evaluation.
- Problem and people focus: Start with the problem, not the technology and ensure that communications and content are in the language of the use case. Engage a diverse group of people, not just technology professionals or senior leadership, and share knowledge frequently.
- Practical implementation: Focus on practical aspects like training models, interacting with existing infrastructure and ensuring the AI tool produces value through careful review and customisation. Avoid building AI just because you can; ensure it meets user needs and provides tangible benefits.
Future challenges
The group discussed the importance of addressing loss of skills, over-reliance on AI and the need for upskilling. It was emphasised that a diverse group of stakeholders with various technical abilities and job titles should be involved before implementation.
The group voiced the importance of ensuring robust AI governance, regulation, alignment, and data quality. Early consultation was highlighted as crucial to avoid missed opportunities or procurement mistakes. Finally, the concerns around the environmental impact of AI were raised, highlighting the importance of AI being proportionate and necessary.
Summing up the day
Feedback for the conference has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants found the talks engaging and the discussions interesting.
One attendee mentioned, "I thought that having the first panel session was great and really helpful to get Sian Thomas’s (Chief Data Officer at DBT) steer."
Another appreciated the networking opportunities, saying, "I enjoyed speaking to people who are working on AI solutions in DBT; it gave me reassurance on how the use of the technology is being governed."
The feedback also gave us several themes to explore for our next AI conference, including:
- use cases from across the department, government and the public sector
- sessions on how DBT is working with businesses on their use of AI
- content on how people can use AI in their jobs
There is more to come so stay tuned!
Our first AI conference is just the beginning as we continue to explore the potential of artificial intelligence. We are launching a new ‘AI in Focus’ webinar series, featuring insights and discussions from different experts.
Additionally, we will explore planning our next AI conference in 2025 to delve deeper into the themes and topics that emerged from our recent discussions.
We are also planning to work on a Spending Review bid with interested Partner Organisations to enhance our strategic collaborations and drive innovation in AI. Stay tuned for more details as we continue to build on the momentum from our first AI conference.
Read more about how our governance framework is enabling the responsible use of AI here.
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