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In the first detailed element of our AI framework blog series, we explore how organisations can ensure ‘meaningful’ human involvement to make sure AI decisions are not classified as solely automated by mistake.

This blog forms part of our ongoing work on developing a framework for auditing AI.  We are keen to hear your views in the comments below or you can email us.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems often process personal data to either support or make a decision. For example, AI could be used to approve or reject a financial loan automatically, or support recruitment teams to identify interview candidates by ranking job applications.

Article 22 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) establishes very strict conditions in relation to AI systems that make solely automated decisions (i.e. without human input), with legal or similarly significant effects about individuals.  AI systems that only support, or enhance, human decision-making are not subject to these conditions.   However, a decision will not fall outside the scope of Article 22 just because a human has ‘rubber-stamped’ it: human input needs to be ‘meaningful’.

The degree & quality of human review & intervention before a final decision is made about an individual is the key factor in determining whether an AI system is solely or non-solely automated.  Board members, data scientists, business owners, and oversight functions, among others, will be expected to play an active role in ensuring that AI applications are designed, built, and used as intended.  Both the ICO and the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) have already published guidance relating to these issues.

A new digital portal is being introduced by the NHS & councils which allows health & social care staff to see how many vacancies there are in local care homes.

This saves hours of time phoning around to check availability and helping people to get the right care or return home as quickly as possible.  In 2018, around a quarter of a million hospital bed days in England were taken up by people who were medically fit enough to be discharged, but who faced delays in an appropriate care home being found that could meet their recovery needs.

The NHS, working with councils, reduced the number of lost bed days by 20% between 2017 and last year, and making the new tool – the Capacity Tracker – more widely available, is one of a number of measures being taken to reduce unnecessary delays leaving hospital still further.

The 5 symptoms of Sepsis are to be highlighted in a new campaign to help raise public awareness of this potentially fatal condition.

The campaign, which will run across social and traditional media, focuses on the often silent symptoms of sepsis, which is a serious complication of an infection.  This includes very high or low temperature, uncontrolled shivering, confusion, passing less urine than normal and blotchy or cold hands & feet.

The first sepsis awareness campaign launched in February 2018.  The new campaign aims to build on this while increasing public knowledge of the early warning signs.  It complements the work carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland through the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, which since 2012 has supported clinicians & clinical practitioners to improve recognition of the signs of sepsis and better equip them to deal with it.   

Private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice & without good reason, in the biggest change to the private rental sector for a generation.

As part of a complete overhaul of the sector, the government has outlined plans to consult on new legislation to abolish Section 21 evictions – so called ‘no-fault’ evictions.  This will bring an end to private landlords uprooting tenants from their homes with as little as 8 weeks’ notice after the fixed-term contract has come to an end.

This will effectively create open-ended tenancies, bringing greater peace of mind to millions of families who live in rented accommodation. Many tenants live with the worry of being evicted at short notice or continue to live in poor accommodation for fear they will be asked to leave if they complain about problems with their home.

And to ensure responsible landlords have confidence they will be able to end tenancies where they have legitimate reason to do so, ministers will amend the Section 8 eviction process, so property owners are able to regain their home should they wish to sell it or move into it.

The Committee on Climate Change has launched a call for evidence to identify relevant published information about the risks & opportunities facing the UK from climate change.