Cambridge University launches AI-focused policy centre to boost economy

The University of Cambridge is set to establish a new academic department later this year, aiming to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive economic growth and enhance policymaking. Named The Bennett School of Public Policy, it marks the university’s first major new department of the century.

With research priorities spanning both the private and public sectors, the school will focus on harnessing AI to improve economic and governmental processes. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deborah Prentice emphasized that the initiative would integrate expertise from social, physical, and medical sciences to address urgent policy challenges.

This new direction builds on Cambridge’s 2023 commitment to studying AI’s potential and risks. Leading the effort, Dame Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, stressed the need for interdisciplinary policymaking. “The era of making policy in silos, where an issue is either just an education or an economy problem, for example, needs to be put behind us,” she stated.

One of the school's key objectives is equipping UK and European policymakers with the necessary skills to navigate AI-driven governance. Researchers are already investigating AI adoption in business and collaborating with the Civil Service to refine AI workflows. Additionally, efforts are underway to improve coordination among UK mayors and regional leaders.

Michael Kenny, professor of public policy, highlighted the centre’s mission to foster “tech-savvy” policymakers who understand the intersection of AI, economics, and sustainability. He noted that the school’s location in Cambridge would facilitate collaboration across various disciplines, from quantum computing to sustainable economics.

Beyond AI, the Bennett School will also contribute to ongoing research on reforming government structures to address geographical inequality. Its launch signals a forward-thinking approach to policy development in an era of rapid technological change.

Image credit: Pete Linforth from Pixabay

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