Scotland's AI Strategy

Logic and explainability are the foundations of trustworthy AI. While modern AI systems are capable of performing impressive taks, their computational models are so complex that they often operate as an opaque "black boxes". The hidden inner workings of AI can cause trust and transparency issues: can we be sure that the outcomes are correct, if we can't see how they are produced? The missing piece, and what AI users should be aiming for, is explainability. According to the IAPP, explainability is the ability to describe or provide sufficient information about how an AI system generates a specific outpout or arrives at a decision in a specific context to a predetermined addressee. If your AI systems score high in explainability, bingo! They are likely trustworthy and transparent.

Image credit: https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

✨ 𝗦𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 is returning for 2026! We'll be bringing our jargon-free, beginner friendly workshop to Livingston on the 13th of January at the Mercure Hotel. It's the perfect first step for businesses and social enterprises looking to adopt AI responsibly. Register your place here 👉 https://buytickets.at/scottishaialliance/1987913

2025 has been a fantastic year for the Scottish AI Alliance, so as we finish up for the holidays we thought we'd share a few of our favourite moments from the past 12 months. We'll be back in January with more exciting plans, so until then we hope you have a wonderful festive season and we shall see you in 2026!

✨ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜
Relaunching our free AI literacy course was a proud moment for the Scottish AI Alliance. The response to the course has been overwhelmingly positive and our learners now number in the thousands! Take the course today and find out what all the fuss is about: https://livingwithai.me

🎙️𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Our very own Steph Wright was delighted to appear on Brian Cox's 'A Question of Science' podcast alongside Adrian Weller, Neil Lawrence, and Jeanette Winterson to discuss harnessing AI for good for the The Francis Crick Institute. You can listen/watch here: https://lnk.to/AQOSAILI

🎶 𝗔𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂
From poetry to dinosaurs, karaoke to controversy, our exhibition exploring the intersection between AI and creativity was an amazing experience. You can read the final report here: https://scottishai.com/reports

✨ 𝗦𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻!
Our jargon-free workshop is the perfect first step for SMEs and social enterprises on their journey towards responsible AI adoption. The workshop is facilitated by our very own Dawn McAra-Hunter and is free to attend. Places are extremely limited, so make sure to register yours quickly!

Register your place here 👉 https://buytickets.at/scottishaialliance/1987913

❄️ As we hurtle towards the end of term time, this is the perfect opportunity for teachers and educators to check out our Children and AI Teaching Pack!

It includes lesson plans for P5 - P7 children and introduces AI in an engaging, age-appropriate way - all grounded in children's human rights.

You can download the pack on our website here 👉 https://www.scottishai.com/children-and-ai

The pack was developed with the Children Parliament 🌐 and the The Alan Turing Institute and co-designed with children, teachers, and experts from across Scotland.

✨𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱?

Our report on the use of Ambient Voice Technologies (also known as AI scribes or ambient scribes) in GP surgeries is available now. It's the result of the People's AI Panel on Health and Care convened by the The Scottish Government and the Scottish AI Alliance.

Read the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKF5dTaM

The report covers the panel's discussions, the key tensions and expectations they identified, and the Scottish Government's response to the findings. If you're concerned, optimistic, or somewhere in between when it comes to AI in healthcare, this report is well worth a read!

✨ 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 ✨

The Scottish AI Alliance is mapping Scotland's ecosystem of AI business support and we want to include you. We want to hear from you if your organisation helps Scottish businesses with:

🔵AI implementation and strategy
🔵Technical expertise and development
🔵Training and skills development
🔵Funding or investment for AI projects
🔵Research collaboration and innovation support

We're creating a comprehensive directory to help businesses navigate Scotland's AI support landscape and connect with the right expertise at the right time.

Complete our short form here 👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/848si3ip7Z

Questions? Comment below or get in touch.

Yutong Liu & Digit / https://betterimagesofai.org / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do you work for an SME or social enterprise and you're not sure where to start with AI? 𝗦𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 is designed specifically for people like you!

In these jargon-free workshops you’ll explore trustworthy and ethical AI adoption, learn how to manage risk proportionately, and create a first‑steps action plan tailored to your context. These sessions are ideal for non‑technical teams in rural, traditional or community‑focused sectors.

Places on the workshops are free, but extremely limited - so get yours quickly!
👉 find out more and register your tickets: https://buytickets.at/scottishaialliance

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, would you like AI teaching packs that offer:
👐Engaging, hands-on activities
🙋Real-life examples of AI in everyday life
📝Easy-to-use lesson plans and slides
💻Links to interdisciplinary learning and digital skills

We’ve got just the thing for you! Check it out today: https://buff.ly/fn1TasJ

AI is everywhere right now, but understanding it isn’t always easy.

With so many headlines it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. That’s why we created Living with AI, a free, online course designed for everyone, no tech background needed.

You’ll explore:
• What AI actually is (and isn’t)
• The benefits it can bring
• The ethical and societal challenges it raises
• And more…

Allowing you to form your own opinions and feel confident taking part in the conversation.

Start learning today, for free: www.livingwithai.me

&D

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Found yourself looking for guidance on how to plan, procure, train and govern AI solutions?

Navigate all of this with confidence by accessing our Scottish AI Playbook Innovation Hub.

On the innovation hub you will find detailed expert advice on
• Responsible AI procurement
• Governance and regulation
• AI training and skills
• People and culture
• Case studies

Let us help you navigate the complex AI business journey.
Discover. Connect. Innovate.
🔗 https://buff.ly/S7JEcA8

💡𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

Children and young people care deeply about how AI is developed, legislated, and used, especially when those decisions impact their lives. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Children and young people today are more aware of AI than many adults give them credit for. They have real questions, concerns, and ideas about the technologies shaping their world. Just like the rest of us, they want a say.

🗣️Our latest release from the Children’s Rights & AI project is a short, engaging eLearning series, ‘𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜: 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀’, designed for adults working in AI and digital fields. These bite-sized resources bring children and young people’s voices directly to the table, sharing their hopes, questions, and concerns about AI in their own words.

🚨𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆. Their perspectives are insightful, surprising, and vital to building responsible AI systems for everyone: https://buff.ly/4fwYxjQ

𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 & 𝘈𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘈𝘐 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦.

Children's Rights and AI - A Resource for Professionals — Scottish AI Alliance Children have a lot to say about Artificial Intelligence and how they feel about their future with the technology. Find out real opinions from children in Scotland.