The discussion papers should:
- identify key areas, questions, and issues relating to these four stages, topics which might be focused on the longer programme of work; or
- offer provocations that highlight the range of perspectives and contributions that the SHAPE disciplines can provide for policymakers navigating the UK’s Digital Society. It is expected that some discussion papers will focus more on the first of these aims, while others will focus more on the second aim.
While current widespread debates relating to AI and large language models require attention, and the Academy has been actively involved in engagement related to the recent AI Safety Summit in the UK, it is also important to recognise that AI models exist in a much larger landscape of digital technologies and systems, including virtual spaces, social media and online communities, media such as gaming, data, digital public services, the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), and so on. We therefore welcome contributions that discuss the following aspects of Digital Society, though these are not exhaustive:
- Algorithmic modelling, including AI, machine learning, large language models and their development;
- Digital environments: digital devices and resources in integrated systems, including social networking, VR and virtual spaces, ‘smart’ systems, and the IoT;
- Digital public services: forms of digital service provision, particularly relating to public service delivery;
- Data generation, acquisition, sharing, usage, and governance (particularly in research contexts).
We ask that contributions consider the potential impacts of digital technology across four areas:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Education and Research
- Growth and Innovation
- Culture and Communities
The matrix framework (see Appendix) below illustrates the four aspects of digital technology on the horizontal axis, and the four areas of social impact along the vertical axis. Importantly, categories on both axes are not mutually exclusive. In other words, a given digital innovation may involve multiple aspects on the horizontal axis, and digital technologies might have related impacts across multiple social areas at once.
The British Academy’s now completed programme on the Future of the Corporation ‘suggested a need to develop a new, more human framework for the corporation around well-defined and aligned purposes.’ This also has relevance for the Digital Society programme, potentially laying groundwork for an exploration of questions that consider what a purposeful technology sector looks like, including identifying the nature of purposeful research, development, and innovation around AI. The notion of purpose in this context speaks to the idea of ‘AI alignment’ in the technology industry, which focuses on the need to ensure that AI systems achieve intended social outcomes. SHAPE disciplines are crucial to not only understanding how to such alignment would work, but also – and, more importantly – to understanding where such values come from in the first place, what they embody, who they represent, and who might be entrusted to monitor and correct alignment over time. We therefore welcome contributions exploring the role of social purpose in the context of the technology sector and national technology strategy.
Objectives
The overarching question that discussion papers should explore is: What are the possibilities of a good digital society? We are seeking contributions of no more than 4000 words. These should add depth, context and practical elements to the evidence base on digital society. The objectives of the discussion papers are to:
- Provide evidence from SHAPE disciplines around one or more of the aspects detailed in the above section.
- Prompt engagement and debate among policy audiences, by posing challenging questions that highlight gaps and opportunities for policy where the evidence points to these (noting that these are not opinion-pieces but should include useful conclusions building on the evidence referred to)
Audience
The target audience for this programme is policy and policymakers; as such, the discussion papers should be policy-relevant and presented in form and language accessible to policymakers. We note that policy can be defined as the system of ideas and processes which govern behaviour and practice to achieve defined goals, within an organisation or community, in other words, including business and other institutions.
While the Digital Society theme aims to draw out SHAPE-informed insights relevant to UK policy contexts, we welcome contributors to draw upon experience, evidence, and knowledge relating to other national or international contexts if they can demonstrate relevance to UK policy.
Deliverable
Reflecting the objectives listed above, the expected deliverable is a short, robust, evidence-based, well-referenced, and balanced discussion or provocation paper that responds to the objectives and addresses the audience identified above. It should also be evidence-based and meet usual academic standards. All papers will be subject to peer review, which will be facilitated by the Academy.
We expect the work to draw from existing knowledge, research, and analysis on these topics; this call is not intended to fund new research. Authors can draw on their previously published material, as well as a wider evidence base, but the discussion paper should be an original work that has not been published elsewhere already.
As highlighted above, these are not opinion-pieces, but should include useful conclusions, and where appropriate, proposals, areas for further discussion, or gaps and opportunities for consideration.
The discussion paper will be an important input to an active programme of policy work at the Academy. Following our peer review, the discussion paper will be published in the author’s name by the British Academy, either individually or as part of a series.
Expected author profile
Contributors (jointly authored papers will be accepted) must have demonstrable expertise, via experience in relevant academic, policy, or practice contexts or roles. This expertise should enable them to contribute authoritatively to the public debate on this issue. We welcome a range of perspectives and backgrounds from across the SHAPE disciplines, as well as relevant non-academic expertise.