Faculty AI has carved a niche in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence by focusing on the resale and consultancy of existing AI models, particularly those developed by OpenAI. Unlike many organisations that prioritise the creation of original foundational models, Faculty's strategy leverages established technologies to assist various sectors, including defence and government operations.
The London-based firm gained recognition for its data analysis contributions to the Vote Leave campaign and subsequent collaborations with the UK government, notably under the administration of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This included work related to the COVID-19 pandemic, where Faculty's CEO, Marc Warner, participated in governmental scientific advisory meetings. More recently, Faculty has been involved in testing AI models for the Artificial Intelligence Safety Initiative (AISI), a project spearheaded by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
While specific details regarding Faculty's involvement in defence projects remain confidential due to non-disclosure agreements, the company has been reported to collaborate with Hadean, a startup that has hinted at their joint efforts in developing technologies for "subject identification, tracking object movement, and exploring autonomous swarming development, deployment and operations." Notably, it has been clarified that this collaboration does not pertain to weapons targeting. However, Faculty refrained from commenting on the potential existence of drones capable of lethal force in their projects.
A spokesperson from Faculty articulated the company’s commitment to fostering "safer, more robust solutions" for its defence partners while adhering to "rigorous ethical policies and internal processes." The spokesperson also noted that the company complies with the ethical guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Defence regarding AI technologies. Emphasising their extensive experience in AI safety, Faculty has been involved in initiatives aimed at combating child sexual abuse and tackling terrorism.
The development of AI applications for military drones has raised significant ethical and legal concerns, particularly around the introduction of autonomous weapon systems. These issues have garnered attention from experts and politicians alike, with a House of Lords committee advocating for international agreements to clarify the implementation of humanitarian law in the context of lethal drones. In alignment with these concerns, the Green Party has called for a total ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems.
In a related observation, it has been revealed that the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian, holds a minority stake in Faculty through its investment arm, Mercuri VC (previously known as GMG Ventures). The intersection of AI innovation and its military applications continues to unfold, highlighting the need for stringent ethical considerations in the development and deployment of such technologies.
Source: Noah Wire Services