DARE UK publishes report on pilot project exploring public views towards AI trained on sensitive data

DARE UK has today published a report outlining the findings of a pilot public dialogue exploring views towards the development and use of AI trained on sensitive data in Trusted Research Environments (TREs). 

The report captures insights from a workshop series led by DARE UK in Balsall Heath, Birmingham with 22 members of the public. It sets out key lessons learned and recommendations for future, UK-wide public deliberations on the topic. The purpose of the pilot was to explore how to effectively engage people in conversations about AI trained on sensitive data, particularly those without existing knowledge, and uncover their initial views.

Participants were optimistic about the public benefits of AI trained on sensitive data, but they wanted to see sufficient human involvement, inclusive training data, and reassurances that data and AI are protected from misuse. They also felt that more needed to be done to raise public awareness of AI trained on sensitive data, and effective oversight was considered critical to trustworthiness.

A key challenge throughout the workshops was maintaining a focus on AI trained on sensitive data held in TREs, with conversations often veering towards internet-based, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Participants were conscious of this challenge themselves, which was likely influenced by the significant media discourse around these types of AI at the time the workshops took place. 

The report sets out clear learnings and recommendations for effective engagement on AI and sensitive data. We’ll be taking the learnings of this pilot forward to inform UK-wide deliberations on a more specific set of questions to dig deeper into public expectations, concerns and assumptions.

The goal is to create clear and actionable guidance for the development and use of AI trained on sensitive data in TREs in line with public expectations.

Find out more in the full report

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