Gaia Marcus, Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, suggests that appropriate regulation of AI technologies could increase public trust and comfort with their deployment. Marcus believes that clear guidelines and oversight are crucial for ensuring AI systems are developed and used responsibly, addressing potential risks to individuals and society. She highlighted the importance of establishing comprehensive legal frameworks that incentivise compliance from AI developers and empower regulators to act effectively.
Marcus's comments come amid ongoing discussions about AI governance, with various regions exploring different regulatory approaches. She emphasised that public expectations for AI governance are high, and that well-designed regulations are essential for securing public trust, business confidence, and investor certainty. The Ada Lovelace Institute advocates for hard rules enshrined in law, arguing that voluntary commitments from the tech industry are insufficient to protect people from potential harms.
Furthermore, Marcus stressed the need for transparency and redress mechanisms to enable individuals to understand how AI affects their lives and have a say in its deployment. She also noted that existing laws, such as the UK GDPR and the Equality Act 2010, provide important protections that should be considered in the development of new AI regulations.
