A taskforce set up to champion charities’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) is urging the government to carry out ‘immediate engagement’ with the sector on the opportunities and risks of its use.

In its response to the government’s consultation on its AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Charity AI Taskforce’s says talks with charities are needed to ensure that “the nation can benefit from all sectors supporting the potential of AI to drive growth”.

Discussions are needed so the charity sector “is able to adopt AI at the same pace as the public and private sectors” and so that government “can benefit from the invaluable wealth of skills, connections and community insights that charities can share”, it says.

Talks with charities are also needed to ensure “the adoption and use of AI across the UK is fair, representative, inclusive and equitable”, adds the taskforce's consultation response.

Such discussions need to take place “as a matter of urgency”, says the taskforce, which was launched earlier this year by CAST and Zoe Amar Digital and involves funders, charities and regulators.

It has been set up to sit alongside the government’s SME AI Task Force, which was launched to support the roll out of the technology among small businesses. The charities’ taskforce says it “should be given support and access equal” to the government’s SME group.

The government is also being told by The Charity AI Taskforce that harnessing AI “to make more” of charities’ volunteer workforce would provide “a significant opportunity for a substantial contribution to the economy”.

“A strong partnership with this sector and the communities they work with can support the economic and skill development focus of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and its focus on growth and cross sector partnerships,” states the charities’ taskforce in its response.

It also points out that under the government’s Civil Society Covenant charities need to be included in policy, such as around implementing AI, “as a default”.

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