AHRC Collaborative Programme: Enabling a Responsible AI

AHRC Collaborative Programme: Enabling a Responsible AI Ecosystem Programme Director Call Information sessions

AHRC Collaborative Programme: Enabling a Responsible AI Ecosystem Programme Director Call - Information sessions Who we are: Agenda: Agenda Item Team Member Welcome and housekeeping Vicki Plomer Programme overview Deborah Kroll Partnering with Ada Carly Kind, Director, Ada Lovelace Institute Timeline and key considerations Vicki Plomer Questions Facilitated by Abbie Fisher Sam McGregor Carly Kind Deborah Kroll (Head of AI & Design, AHRC) Director - Ada Lovelace Institute) (Senior Investment Manager: AI, AHRC) Vicki Plomer Katherine Mansfield Abbie Fisher (Investment Manager: AI, AHRC) (Investment Manager: AI, Design, Knowledge Exchange, AHRC) (Investment Officer: AI, Design, Knowledge Exchange, AHRC)

Programm e Overview Programme activities will harness the UK’s strengths in responsible AI – from humanities, arts and social sciences, through to engineering and computer science. It will support cutting-edge research at the interfaces between sectors and disciplines and connecting researchers from a range of disciplines with relevant stakeholders in policy (including but not limited to regulatory bodies and standards organisations) and industry.

High-level Objectives A larger and more diverse community with knowledge and understanding of responsible and ethical approaches to AI and data-driven technologies, and the skills necessary to apply them in multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral contexts New capabilities being developed at the interface between AI and policy to support AI governance and accountability, including but not limited to regulation and standards AI regulation, standards and governance mechanisms that support and incentivise responsible and ethical innovation Strategies and mechanisms for promoting, supporting and incentivising self-regulation across the AI lifecycle, recognising that different approaches may be more or less effective in different contexts An increase in public understanding, trust and acceptance of AI and data-driven technologies as a result of greater confidence in how they are developed, deployed, used and governed An increase in adoption and diffusion of responsibly developed and deployed AI and data-driven technologies, driven by consumer acceptance, demand and uptake

Programme Elements Funded by this grant: Programme Director, with a team including Ada Ecosystem support Funded by future calls: Collaborative research fellowships Ethical AI demonstrators Ada's work will be supported by 288k/year (minimum) ringfenced within the award.

Theory of Change

The Programme Director will: Provide intellectual and strategic leadership, visibility and clarity of focus across the programme Ensure coherence and cohesiveness in the scope and focus of programme calls Programm e Director Role Identify and fill gaps in knowledge and skills necessary to further develop the AI ecosystem Lead programme-level engagement with policy and industry stakeholders, drawing on their expertise to define programme priorities that align with benefits Lead engagement with different, sometimes disparate, intellectual and professional communities and support the establishment of new projects and partnerships at the interfaces between them Facilitate effective and timely knowledge exchange and information sharing across the programme Ensure effective and timely delivery of the programme At least 0.6FTE Job shares allowed

Eligibility & Requirements Based at a UKRI-eligible research organisation Demonstrate considerable strengths and expertise at the intersection of humanities, social science, and STEM disciplines in relation to AI and data-driven technologies Experience working across sectors to enhance and advance research translation and impact A letter of support from Ada as the collaborating partner

What we're looking for in a team Leadership at the intersection of humanities, social science and STEM disciplines in relation to AI and data-driven technologies Relevant thematic expertise to support delivery of the desired outcomes Track record in engaging diverse stakeholders and audiences, including the public Proven ability to deliver complex projects to time, including effective monitoring and tracking of progress Track record in realising outcomes and benefits from research activity Demonstrable understanding of and willingness to uphold the principles of public funding.

The Ada Lovelace Institute is the collaborating partner on the programme and must be involved in the development of Programme Director proposals. The Ada Lovelace Institute will work with the Programme Director and team on: Ada Lovelace Institute Defining and shaping the overall programme, including priority themes, topics and sectors Defining and delivering ecosystem support activities, including research synthesis and project delivery Defining the scope and content of programme calls Creating opportunities for convening and influencing policy and practice Other aspects of the programme’s execution as agreed with the successful Programme Director Your grant will include a minimum of 288k per year ringfenced for the Ada Lovelace Institute as Exceptions. Further funding to support Ada’s contributions to the programme you co-design may be allocated at your discretion.

Prospective Programme Directors should: Consult the background note that will be available on the preannouncement page next week concerning Ada’s contribution to the Programme Ada Lovelace Institute Familiarise themselves with Ada’s strategy and consider how to align the proposed programme design and direction with goals and outcomes Return an expression of interest to AHRC, in order to be considered by Ada for onward application Attend a pre-application informational meeting with Ada's Director to discuss the collaborative partnership and understand more about Ada's role Make a formal application, including Ada's role and ringfenced budget Obtain a general letter of support from the Ada Lovelace Institute prior to applying

Your proposal should lay out a distinct vision for this programme within the landscape, explaining how your work will support and compound the benefits of sectoral actors across the UK. It should also demonstrate Think about. How you will work across the different goals and working paces of different sectoral actors How the programme will build public understanding and trust where it is justified How you will develop the pipeline of people engaged in responsible AI A commitment to inclusion An approach to defining and delivering this fund in line with the principles of managing public money How you will shape and lead activities that you deliver directly

Key Dates Milestone Date Pre-announcement 22nd of April Full call specification published & call opens in Je-s Late May Deadline for submitting Expression Of Interest to Ada 15th of June Call closes in Je-S 26th of July Shortlisting panel meeting September Interviews October Outcomes to applicants October Project starts November 2022

Questions?