Innovation and Technology: Education
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help improve public understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and gene editing.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
Maintaining a positive and transparent dialogue between government and the public will help society make informed decisions about engineering biology, including technologies like gene editing. In August 2024, DSIT surveyed 3,000 UK adults to gain insight into their understanding and their perceptions of engineering biology. The survey results show that there is limited public awareness of engineering biology, but that people are likely to be optimistic about using engineering biology to solve societal challenges. Now, DSIT is delivering a UK-wide public dialogue. 56 participants have been recruited across all four UK nations. The outcomes from this will shape the Government’s approach to responsible innovation and public engagement for engineering biology.
The government is committed to building a digitally skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth, drive innovation and expand individual opportunity. As part of this ambition, DSIT has launched the AI Skills Boost campaign to upskill 10 million workers in AI skills by 2030. AI Skills Boost is designed to be accessible for everyone across the UK, providing free, online access to foundational AI training. Over 1.7 million courses have already been delivered across the UK.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →