Meet Callum Sinclair
Leadership Circle Spotlight
In the Leadership Circle Spotlight series, we are finding out more about the Scottish AI Alliance Leadership Circle. Below you can find an interview with Callum Sinclair, Partner and Head of Technology & Commercial at Burness Paull LLP, and learn about his involvement with AI and Scotland’s AI Strategy.
Why did you want to get involved with Scotland's AI Strategy?
For 20+ years, I have been passionate about technology, and the incredible opportunities it presents to society. I have spent my working life ensuring clients can maximise those opportunities, and avoid regulatory and commercial pitfalls. Every day my job brings something new and different, maybe nothing more exciting than AI/ML.
We are at a pivotal moment for AI technologies: Scotland’s AI Strategy outlines the transformational ways our society and country can benefit if we get it right. As a senior lawyer though, it is part of my role to think critically and consider what happens if we don’t (we’ve seen algorithmic bias and wholesale mis-use of personal data already), and how we can prevent that from happening, and mitigate harmful effects. I want to help by bringing that insight and experience from front-line advice to clients to Scotland’s AI Strategy.
What does Trustworthy, Ethical, and Inclusive AI look like to you?
Fair, open, and transparent systems, straightforwardly explained, and with privacy, security, and ethics by design. Regulation has a really important role to play in introducing standards and trust marks that provide consumers with confidence and manufacturers / developers with certainty.
How is Scotland in a unique position with regard to AI?
Scotland has always enjoyed an exceptional reputation for innovation – but it is more than that. On top of that, Scotland has been seen as a country of spirit, generosity and trustworthiness, and there is data to back all of this up. For example, in statistics relating to charitable giving per head of population; and in consumer feedback on trust for call centre operators with Scottish voices. We need to bottle that and apply it to our approach as a country to AI systems and technologies. We will not outspend countries like the US and China on AI R&D, so our opportunity lies in setting ourselves apart and becoming known as a world leader in ethical and trustworthy AI.
What advice do you have for young people looking to get into the AI field?
Embrace your STEM subjects from day 1 in school! Be curious. Seek out work experience opportunities in data and AI/ML. There is a skills shortage in technology jobs already, and there will be a huge demand for data science and AI positions in the future. Guaranteed jobs, and lots of rewards, both in job satisfaction and remuneration :)
Do you have a favourite newspaper or blog where you get your tech news?
I enjoy BBC Tech Tent podcasts, DIGIT and FutureScot. And Scotland AI Alliance podcasts and vidcasts of course!
Who (or what) is your favourite fictional AI character from a book or movie?
I have very happy memories as a kid of Number Johnny Five from the Short Circuit movies! But also Cyberdyne Systems at the other end of the spectrum…
What do you envision to be the biggest challenges for Scotland's AI Strategy going forward?
I think the biggest challenge will be to create tangible outputs that are relevant and meaningful to any individual or organisation touched by AI i.e. all of us! It is why we are adopting a “personas” led approach to the development of the Scottish AI Playbook, for example – so it doesn’t matter if you are a consumer, a developer / manufacturer, an academic institution, a community group, a commercial business, or even a law firm – there will be something there for you.
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