A National Data Library?

"... the government has yet to publish any firm plans" - has it published any plans whatsoever? So far I've only heard vague aspirations. I can be so much more than a vague aspiration... 😪

State of digital government review

And we also have the "State of digital government review" which states "Fragmented data hampers ability to analyse and draw meaningful insights". Despite all the commentary therein on the state of data, the core skillset needed to fix this - data management - doesn't get a mention!

YouTube video by BBC Comedy Greats Redrafting The Redraft Of The Redraft | Yes, Minister | BBC Comedy Greats

On me, every government response is "Agree. DSIT will explore how it will take forward this recommendation as it develops the National Data Library and its wider data access policy. The government will set out further details on the National Data Library and data access policy in due course."

Interestingly, the press release says the government will fully deliver the action plan, but the actual gov response only 'partially agrees' with recs 13 and 21, hasn't said if it agrees or disagrees with rec 24, and even where the top line is 'agree' has stuck a pin in many with vague responses.

"13. Establish a copyright-cleared British media asset training data set" - This one sounds a bit muddled. Not sure this is my bag either. But if you're going to 'copyright clear' this data, how does that square with then licensing it?

Open research Open research embodies good research practices by opening up participation in, and access to, the research lifecycle. It covers a wide range of practices and principles related to how research is carr...

"12. Actively incentivise and reward researchers and industry to curate and unlock private datasets." - Research is largely funded by the public and there is already the Concordat on Open Research Data. How's that going? Maybe *just* fix the private sector element then!?

"11. Build public sector data collection infrastructure and finance the creation of new high-value datasets that meet public sector, academia and startup needs." - Ambitious! But surely we already have loads of data collection infrastructure? So I'm not starting from scratch, right?

"10. Couple compute allocation with access to proprietary data sets" - Another one which is a bit vague. Some of this already exists for researchers, surely? For start-ups this seems somewhat trickier?

"9. Develop and publish guidelines and best practices for releasing open government datasets which can be used for AI, including on the development of effective data structures and data dissemination methods." - sounds a lot like a lot of data management work to me!

"8. Strategically shape what data is collected, rather than just making data available that already exists." - a bit like data.europa.eu and their High Value Datasets? digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/comm...

"7. Rapidly identify at least 5 high-impact public datasets it will seek to make available to AI researchers and innovators." - that one is vague, and technically already done, surely? We must already have 5 high-impact datasets to available?

AI Opportunities Action Plan

No pressure, eh? I only have to unlock the potential of data assets across the entire public and private sector, fuel the AI revolution, all while maintaining (or restoring?) public trust.
www.gov.uk/government/p...

That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement. What if I don't want to facilitate government-like-an-airline? I want to fly high, but not like that!

How exciting(?)! I'm pretty sure this will need reliable data to underpin it all. I guess that's where I come in, right? 🤔 www.gov.uk/government/n...

Whoah, there are some saying I should be AI ready, and now you're telling us it's all a confidence trick? 😐

A New National Purpose: Harnessing Data for Health A New National Purpose: Harnessing Data for Health

On the heels of Onward in May was the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. They want a National Data Trust for health data. But don't I need to go beyond health? Isn't the ecosystem I live in so complex that a single access point even for *just* health data is more than I can hope to ever be? 🤔

Yesterday's contribution from @peterkwells.com on my future - it's nice to know so many people care 🥲

About Onward - Think Tank - Bold Ideas For The Centre Right About Onward - Onward is a modernising think tank developing bold and practical ideas for the next generation of centre right thinkers and leaders

Onward describes itself as a centre right think tank interested in optimistic conservatism, and is led by Conservative peer Lord Fincklestein www.ukonward.com/about/

Let's get real about Britain's AI status Britain is already a world leader in artificial intelligence. Sort of.

One of my earliest memories was when Onward called me the "British Library for Data" and thought I could really help the UK become an AI superpower. No pressure! I've got a catchier name now though, and that's what counts #ndl

How to build a National Data Library Discover what a National Data Library should look like, and how to ensure it works for government, industry, research and society.

They've even given me careers advice...

The ODI’s input to the AI Action Plan: an AI-ready National Data Library Learn more about why we believe that developing a robust data infrastructure is fundamental to the AI Action Plan's success.

When I grow up I want to be a National Data Library that will make the @odihq.bsky.social proud! (or do I?)

Home Bringing together ready-to-use data to enable faster and wider collaborative analysis for the public good.

Am I the Integrated Data Service integrateddataservice.gov.uk developed by ONS?

Am I the API catalogue www.api.gov.uk developed by CDDO?

Am I Data Marketplace datamarketplace.gov.uk developed by CDDO?

Am I data.gov.uk? Am I just open data?