UK Government Digital Service seeks data & AI ethicists to support responsible tech adoption

The Government Digital Service (GDS), the digital center of the UK government, is seeking three data and artificial intelligence (AI) ethicists to help lead the development of responsible data and AI within government. The roles will sit within the office for the chief data officer in GDS. 

GDS helps the government build and use AI and data-driven technologies responsibly by developing and implementing cross-government tools and guidance. These include the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), the Data Ethics Framework, and the Model for Responsible Innovation. It is also currently setting up a new Responsible AI Advisory Panel.

The three roles involve various specific duties along with general responsibilities such as commissioning research and developing cross-government models and future responsible data and AI innovation as well as providing support on wider responsible data and AI workstreams.

What is GDS looking for in data & AI ethicists?

According to the job posting, the GDS is interested in people who have:

• Experience of developing responsible data and AI ethics tools, standards, and guidelines and translating theoretical principles into practice.
• Strong policy development and/or implementation experience in responsible AI, data ethics, or related fields.
• Experience of working with academics and external researchers (e.g. describing emerging theories and concepts in the field of data and AI ethics).
• Demonstrable ability to communicate how data and AI ethical issues fit into the wider organizational context.
•  Strong experience of engaging credibly and confidently with senior technical and non-technical stakeholders, in both written and spoken formats.
• An ability to deliver at pace and work in a complex environment.
• Experience of independently driving forward a large piece of work and delivering impact through others.

Benefits include flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours, a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97 percent, and 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days.

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What is ethical AI?

Ethical AI defines the development and use of AI systems that align with human values and principles to ensure fairness, privacy, transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights.

It involves considering the potential societal impacts of AI and striving to mitigate risks and prevent harm from occurring. Ethical AI is a growing topic, given the rapid adoption of technological advancements in AI.

With the emergence of big data, companies have increased their focus to drive automation and data-driven decision-making across their organizations. “While the intention there is usually, if not always, to improve business outcomes, companies are experiencing unforeseen consequences in some of their AI applications, particularly due to poor upfront research design and biased datasets,” according to IBM.

As instances of unfair outcomes have come to light, new guidelines have emerged, primarily from the research and data science communities, to address concerns around the ethics of AI.

“In no other field is the ethical compass more relevant than in AI,” according to Gabriela Ramos, assistant director-general for social and human sciences at UNESCO. “These general-purpose technologies are re-shaping the way we work, interact, and live. The world is set to change at a pace not seen since the deployment of the printing press six centuries ago.”

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