Want to be a Responsible AI Practitioner? Here’s 3 takeaways from techUK’s event
As artificial intelligence (AI) spreads throughout the UK economy, a pressing question emerges at the heart of this transformation: who, precisely, bears responsibility for responsible AI? In response, we're witnessing the rise of a critical new professional class: Responsible AI (RAI) practitioners. These individuals ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed ethically, safely, and fairly. What began as primarily an auxiliary function has evolved into an urgent operational imperative, with practitioners now frequently invited to speak at board and investor meetings.
But how does a person become a responsible AI practitioner?
techUK’s Learn to be a Responsible AI Practitioner event, organised as part of our TechTogether campaign in collaboration with All Tech is Human, provided an interactive session for trans-disciplinary networking, with people from technical and non-technical backgrounds that were interested in learning about the unique career pathways, competencies and resources to be a RAIprofessional.
The event was originally only for those early in their tech career, such as apprentices, interns and graduates, as part of techUK’s Early Tech Career Network. However, but we recognised that becoming such a practitioner can and should be able to happen at any stage of a person’s career. As a result, the event was opened to all.
The event emphasised that all are welcome to this space, and it is not just for technical people, given the substantial knowledge and resources already pooled in this fairly new field. The session highlighted the accessibility and opportunity available to those interested in this growing profession.
Chaired by Nimmi Patel, Head of Skills, Talent & Diversity at techUK, the four expert speakers gave the audience a lot to think about:
1. Develop skills you need while shining a light on the perspective you bring
The panel provided examples of what a practitioner’s day-to-day duties may include and outlined the core competencies for success. Avalon Insights’ co-founder, Thomas Akintan highlighted how Avalon provides modular AI training to companies and that this need for AI literacy has only increased. The mix of different career stages and backgrounds in the audience meant the panel encouraged people to consider both formal education courses (postgraduate degrees), online certifications and the importance of building practical experience through mentorship or internship opportunities.
2. Learn to work with senior leaders
Dr Thordis Sveinsdottir, Service Manager at Trilateral Research spoke about her career and emphasised the importance of working alongside leaders. Having the ability to support board buy-in and top-down understanding for the business case for ethics is critical to successfully operationalise ethical principles. This is why interpersonal and translating skills such as communication and relationship building are as vital to the role as technical expertise. Tess Buckley, Programme Manager for Digital Ethics and AI Safety at techUK shared how she explains AI ethics and trails ideas with her grandmother, because if her grandma can understand, so will senior leadership teams.
3. Join communities of practice
GirlsWhoML’s President, Megha Mishra, spoke about the importance of community and mentors and how to find one. Her insights highlighted the crucial need for actively cultivating female technical talent. She emphasised that diverse perspectives, particularly from women who have historically been underrepresented in technical fields, are essential for developing truly ethical AI systems that work equitably for all users. By creating supportive networks and mentorship opportunities specifically for women, the field can address existing gender imbalances while simultaneously strengthening the responsible AI ecosystem with more comprehensive ethical considerations.
Lots of resources were shared, the audience asked the panel many questions, followed by pizza and drinks to round the evening off. If you work for a techUK member company and you’re interested in getting involved or would like further information, please get in touch to find out about our next event.
