Meta is trying to introduce its artificial intelligence into the UK healthcare system. On Tuesday, The Guardian newspaper reported that the company held a hackathon in Europe, where more than 200 developers were tasked with using Llama AI to improve healthcare services in the country. The company has allocated funds for the development of AI that reduces waiting time in British emergency departments (ER in the US).
The UK Minister for Artificial Intelligence Feryal Clark said in an interview with The Guardian that “the government could adopt AI, such as the open source Meta model, to support our key missions.” Earlier this month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the green light for Llama to cooperate with the US government. On the same day, Bloomberg reported that the company is also working with governments and contractors in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and – as we can see – the UK.
Given that Britain’s use of the open-source AI model will not provide a direct or immediate financial flow to the company, The Guardian asked Meta’s president of global affairs Nick Clegg what’s in it for Meta. “In the long run, it is indirectly in our interest to see this ecosystem of llama-based innovation because it makes it much easier for us to bring the innovation that exists into our own products,” said Clegg, a former deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom.
In August, Mark Zuckerberg announced that the number of Llama downloads was approaching 350 million, which he attributed to the open nature of the AI model.
Clegg was dismissive – perhaps even mocking – of fears of AI infiltrating governments. “Who knows, maybe AI will start to develop a mind of its own and want to turn us into paper clips by next Tuesday,” he told The Guardian. “But I think the technology is a lot more primitive right now than many of us fear.”
To be fair, the “now” is less of a concern than the “later.”
Clarke, the UK’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence, told The Guardian that the government will not shy away from the significant risk posed by AI. Instead, it will “make sure that any regulation we introduce is proportionate, supports innovation, and does not place an undue burden on businesses.”
