Meta looking to bring its Llama AI to UK’s NHS

Meta — the tech giant behind platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — is making strides in deploying its artificial intelligence (AI) technology within the UK's public sector.

Recently, Meta awarded funding for a project designed to reduce NHS A&E (Accident and Emergency) waiting times, signaling a bold move to integrate its Llama AI system into public services. This initiative follows Meta's first European "hackathon," bringing together over 200 programmers to explore innovative solutions for UK government challenges, notably aligned with the priorities of the Labour party.

How does it work?

The foundation of Meta's initiative lies in its Llama AI system, an open-source model designed to facilitate innovation. During the hackathon, participants brainstormed applications of Llama AI in public services, such as streamlining healthcare operations to cut down emergency room wait times.

According to Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, the ecosystem created through such innovation benefits Meta indirectly, as these advancements can be reincorporated into its own products.

UK AI Minister Feryal Clark emphasized the potential of AI tools like Llama to advance government missions without significant costs, leveraging their adaptability and scalability.

Why does it matter?

Meta's engagement highlights a growing trend: Silicon Valley tech companies are increasingly collaborating with governments to modernize public services. With the NHS facing chronic issues like overcrowding in A&E, AI-driven solutions could offer relief and efficiency gains. However, this push has sparked debates around safety, accountability, and the role of tech giants in shaping public policy.

Addressing these concerns, Clegg dismissed fears of catastrophic AI risks, calling the technology "way more primitive than a lot of the fears suggest."

The conversation also underscores a delicate balancing act - fostering innovation while mitigating risks and ensuring proper regulation.

The context

Meta's move is part of a broader Silicon Valley race to influence national and local governments. Rivals like Microsoft and Palantir have been advancing their own AI offerings, with Microsoft signing a five-year deal to provide AI tools to UK civil servants. These partnerships come amidst concerns over the growing influence of tech companies in governance, as highlighted by incidents like the August UK riots, where social media platforms played a role in escalating tensions.

The government, for its part, acknowledges the disparity in resources. Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle noted that the UK must approach these collaborations with "statecraft" given the tech giants' outsized budgets for innovation. Nonetheless, Labour has promised proportionate regulations to support innovation without stifling business.

"We are having to apply a sense of statecraft to working with companies that we've in the past reserved for dealing with other states," Kyle remarked, reflecting the challenge of balancing public interests with private sector capabilities.

By focusing on AI's potential to address real-world problems, Meta is showcasing its technological prowess and shaping its image as a responsible innovator in public service.