Policy Connect are launching a new inquiry on ‘Skills in the Age of AI’, with the aim of exploring the evolving landscape of citizen and workforce skills in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The inquiry will be chaired by Lord Clement-Jones and Lord Chris Holmes, and examine the skills citizens, employers, and professionals will require to navigate technological advancements in their sectors.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Identifying emerging skill requirements in AI-driven industries.
2. Addressing potential skills gaps and proposing educational reforms.
3. Exploring the impact of AI on existing job roles and career paths.
4. Developing strategies for workforce adaptation and upskilling.

The inquiry will include two roundtable discussions that gather experts to share their views on policies for digital skills delivery and interventions that have proved useful in supporting citizens to boost their AI competencies:

• Roundtable One (23rd October) – this session will explore the explore the efforts of the third sector and other organisations to support individuals to become more digitally included and AI literate.
• Roundtable Two (21st November) – employers, businesses, and local authorities will be invited to discuss the need for a comprehensive strategy to ensuring that the future workforce is capable of navigating technological change in the age of AI.  

Evidence has also been captured from a series of citizen roundtables held in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire thanks to the outreach work of Manchester Metropolitan University. These roundtables emphasised the importance of digital and cyber up-skilling for individuals throughout their lives so as to empower them to the fullest extent in the age of AI. 

Digital literacy and skills for individuals and small companies who are most likely to feel left behind by the transformative effects of AI tools will be a key focus of the inquiry. It will consider what innovative approaches or technologies can be adopted to give people across different communities the digital skills they need to use AI in their daily lives and to help them prosper in the workplace.  

The inquiry will lead to the production of a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations for government, educational institutions, and the private sector. It will build upon Policy Connect's previous work, especially its 2023 report An Ethical AI Future – Guardrails and Catalysts to Make Artificial Intelligence a Force for Good.

Oona Muirhead, Fellow at Policy Connect and author of Policy Connect’s previous reports on AI, said:

“The roundtables we held with citizens in Manchester and rural Yorkshire showed that people are apprehensive about the impact of AI on their lives. They fear the ease with which bad actors can use AI to be constantly one step ahead of the game. There is a huge appetite amongst people of all ages to develop their digital literacy and skills. This inquiry will draw out what needs to happen to help citizens exploit the many benefits of AI while protecting themselves from the risks of deep-fakes and frauds. Our previous inquiry called for a powerful single focus in a National AI Centre, bringing together and building on existing expertise as was done when the National Cyber Centre was created. While the Government has taken some steps towards our goal, in the absence of a powerful custodian it will be the more important that citizens themselves understand what AI can and cannot do for them, and what opportunities and risks it offers for them.”

This work is possible thanks to our sponsors, Microsoft UK, Zurich Insurance, Manchester Metropolitan University and our members.

For more information about the inquiry or to get involved, please contact Senior Researcher, Alyson Hwang (alyson.hwang [at] policyconnect.org.uk (alyson[dot]hwang[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)).