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AI Governance in Pharma with Oliver Patel

Feb 22, 2025

AI Unscripted Podcast with Oliver Patel

Introduction

  • Guest: Oliver Patel, Enterprise AI Governance Lead at AstraZeneca
  • Background: Academia, public policy, global media
  • Focus: Responsible AI in the pharmaceutical industry

Oliver Patel's Career Path

  • Master's in Philosophy and Public Policy at the London School of Economics
    • Studied bioethics, philosophy of mind, consciousness, etc.
  • Worked in Academia
    • Focus on public policy, data privacy
    • University College London
  • UK Government
    • Negotiated data adequacy agreement post-Brexit
  • Shift to AI ethics and governance around 2019
  • Joined AstraZeneca in 2023
  • Also works with the International Association of Privacy Professionals

AI in the Pharmaceutical Industry

  • No single use case; AI impacts all areas
  • Main Challenge: Long time to develop new medicines (10-15 years)
    • AI can potentially speed up the process
  • Use of generative AI parallels other sectors
    • Content creation at scale, enterprise chat/search

AI Governance in Pharma

  • AstraZeneca's AI ethics principles published in 2021
  • Enterprise AI governance framework:
    1. Policies and standards
    2. Risk assessments and risk mitigation
    3. Tracking AI activities
    4. Keeping up with regulations
    5. Upskilling and training workforce
  • AI governance as change management

Challenges in AI Explainability

  • Concepts: transparency, explainability, interpretability
  • Importance varies by context
    • Mission-critical in decision-making impacting lives (e.g., recruitment, judicial decisions)
  • Trade-off between accuracy and explainability in some models
  • Each use case requires careful consideration of the appropriate AI model

Practical Advice for AI Governance

  1. Risk-Based Approach: Proportional governance, focus on high-risk AI
  2. Change Management: Engage stakeholders, educate workforce
  3. Buy-In: Secure support from senior leaders and technical teams

Conclusion

  • AI governance as a people opportunity
  • Education on AI's role in business is essential
  • AI is becoming a fundamental part of business, not just hype

Connecting with Oliver Patel

  • LinkedIn for content and updates on AI governance and policy

These notes summarize the key points and insights from the podcast discussion with Oliver Patel, focusing on AI governance, challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, and practical advice for implementing AI strategies effectively.

Full transcript