Public sector AI transparency standard: UK Government seeks to lead by example

Abstract

In releasing the Algorithmic Transparency Standard, the UK government has reiterated its commitment to greater algorithmic transparency in the public sector. The Standard signals that the UK government is both pushing forward with the AI standards agenda and ensuring that those standards benefit from empirical practitioner-led experience, enabling coherent, widespread adoption. The two-tier approach of the Algorithmic Transparency Standard encourages transparency inclusivity across distinct audiences, facilitating trust across algorithm stakeholders. Moreover, it can be understood that implementation of the Standard within the UK’s public sector will inform standards more widely, influencing best practice in the private sector. This article provides a summary and commentary of the text.