UK to launch new AI sandboxes to improve NHS wait times and build more homes
A new blueprint for AI regulation will be announced by the Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on Tuesday (21 October) to help drive innovation and growth in the sector.
More new homes, better outcomes for patients, and world-leading innovations are among the benefits people can expect to see from a new blueprint for AI regulation being announced, as the government slashes bureaucracy and ramps up the safe adoption of AI to unlock its full potential.
Kendall will announce plans to look at how companies and innovators can test new AI products in real-world conditions, with some rules and regulations temporarily relaxed under strict supervision.
Known as sandboxes, individual regulations are temporarily switched off or tweaked for a limited period of time in safe, controlled testing environments.
These sandboxes would initially be set up for key sectors of the economy like healthcare, professional services, transport, and the use of robotics in advanced manufacturing, to accelerate the responsible development and deployment of AI products.
For example, a testing ground focused on building AI tools could support health workers deliver better patient care on an accelerated timeline. This would also help reduce NHS waiting lists and time demands on frontline NHS staff, as well as ensure that public services are working around the lives of the British public.
Currently, a typical housing development application racks up 4,000 pages of documentation and takes as long as 18 months from submission to approval. By reviewing regulations to explore how AI could support officials, those times could be slashed – speeding up decision making and putting the government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current Parliament in the fast lane.
“To deliver national renewal, we need to overhaul the old approaches which have stifled enterprise and held back our innovators,” said Kendall.
“We want to remove the needless red tape that slows progress so we can drive growth and modernise the public services people rely on every day. This isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about fast-tracking responsible innovations that will improve lives and deliver real benefits.”
