Through participating in the Sandbox, you will play a key role in informing future AI governance frameworks and help educate the public about the changing world of work. In addition to this, through committing to a learning partnership with IFOW, you will also build your understanding of how AI systems can best be deployed to achieve good work within your organisation.

This partnership will allow you to develop a better understanding of AI governance, whilst also allowing us to better understand the challenges of adopting AI responsibly, helping to inform future best practice and regulation.

Through participating in the Sandbox, you will have the opportunity to be part of an engaged cohort of innovative organisations that will share learnings on how to promote Good Work through responsible innovation.
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Specifically, participation in the Sandbox is expected to include:
• Skills development on AI governance at work, providing you with the knowledge to successfully implement frameworks which advance good work through innovation within your organisation
• A named expert within the IFOW who shall provide your organisation with advice and guidance on implementing the GWAIA
• A minimum of 6 workshops over a 12-month period, to help guide you through the AI adoption process and learn from peers about their experience
• A reflective platform where organisations involved can share learnings and develop an understanding of how other firms are practically adopting AI solutions that drive better work
• Being part of an engaged cohort of innovative firms, looking to centre their workers in the deployment of AI systems.

As a signatory to the Council of Europe AI Treaty, the UK will be required to ensure that the activities of both public and private actors comply with its obligations, including a new risk management framework. This requires ex ante assessment of many significant risks and impacts in the workplace. Importantly, the framework requires consideration of perspectives of those who are affected. This is consistent with the IFOW Good Work Algorithmic Impact Assessment which will be piloted in the Sandbox process.

If, rather than focusing on Responsible AI, your organisation wants to understand its current compliance with GDPR  we advise you engage with the ICO’s Sandbox set up for this. You can also find advice about AI adoption on the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum AI Hub.

We ask that organisations commit the appropriate resources required to meaningfully undertake an assessment of at least one AI use case within the organisation, using the GWAIA.

The time taken will depend on the complexity of the AI system and the stage process and environment within which it is deployed. We expect that organisations will secure buy-in from senior leadership to participate. Before participating in the Sandbox, IFOW will provide specific estimates for each organisation on the total time commitment that would be expected over the Sandbox period.

Organisations should make available at least one senior member of management to be the named lead for the project. In large organisations this may be the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head/Director of People, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, Head of Operations, or Data Protection Officer etc. The named lead should participate in six workshops over a 12-month period. As well as a named lead, we ask that organisations commit allocation of staff time and resources to engage with the process.

IFOW has received funding from Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to act as secretariat to the Regulator Plus forum, ensuring independence of the Sandbox, and allowing findings to feed into future UK AI regulation. IFOW has also received funding from Trust for London to set up the Sandbox and carry out exploratory projects.

We rely on charitable donations to deliver a high-quality programme, that will develop robust insights for industry, academia and government. The level and nature of donations we receive will shape the design of the programme and the expected final outputs. If your organisation is committed to IFOW’s charitable objective, of achieving a fairer future through better work, we are willing to accept corporate donations that will help support critical activities such as the Responsible AI Sandbox.

Please note that as a registered charity, any donations made will be directly invested into the running of the charity and Sandbox, to help inform the UK’s regulatory landscape, allowing innovation and social good to advance together.

All organisations are given the option of full anonymity in the reporting we will do about lessons for the future of work and governance. However, for transparency purposes, we ask that all organisations who make donations elect to be listed as participants on our site.

Through participating in the Sandbox, you will play a key role in informing future AI governance frameworks and we are looking to build cohorts of pioneering businesses from different sectors. We want organisations to engage in deep and trusting disclosure. Therefore, cohorts will be designed to ensure no competing organisations are in the same group. In addition to this, through committing to a learning partnership with IFOW, you will also build your understanding of how AI systems can best be deployed to achieve good work within your organisation.

Organisations will have peer-to-peer learning opportunities with their cohort to share insights about their experiences on a confidential basis.

If you are considering the deployment of an AI system in any of the application areas mentioned, and are keen to be involved, please submit your expression of interest here.

Due to the limited capacity to run the Sandbox, we expect that not all applicants will be successful when applying to the Sandbox. We will aim to inform you of a decision within two weeks.