How does a particle physicist end up shaping the UK Government’s approach to artificial intelligence? In this thought‑provoking episode, I spoke with Dr. Laura Gilbert CBE, former Director of Data Science at 10 Downing Street and now the Senior Director of AI at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Laura’s unique career path, from academic research in physics to the heart of policymaking, gives her a rare perspective on how governments can use emerging technologies such as AI not just efficiently, but humanely.
She shares candid insights into how policy teams think about digital transformation, why the public sector faces very different challenges to private industry, and how to avoid technology that dehumanises decision‑making.
This conversation is for anyone interested in the intersection of science, policy, ethics, and technology, and how they can be combined to make government more responsive, transparent, and human-centred.
Listen to the episode above, via podc.st/s7e6 or search for “digitally curious” wherever you get your podcasts.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
1️⃣ How Laura moved from particle physics research into government AI leadership
2️⃣ The strategic role of AI in shaping modern policy and public services
3️⃣ Why forecasting in AI is harder than it looks, and how this impacts decision‑makers
4️⃣ The balance between technical capability and human‑centred governance
5️⃣ Why governments must look beyond the tech giants for innovative solutions
Some great quotes from the episode included:
❝ The temptation in government is to go for the big, flashy AI project. But the smarter move is starting small. Find the painful friction points, fix them in two weeks, and prove the value. That’s how you get trust, buy‑in, and real change.
❝ Radical transparency changes behaviour. We open‑source code where possible, publish our methods, and explain in plain English how AI decisions are made, so citizens and Parliament can see exactly what’s going on.
❝ Citizens don’t experience policy; they experience services. AI should make those journeys faster, clearer, and fairer — not more complicated. That means plain‑English decisions, fewer forms, and help that gets to people before they have to chase us.
Laura and I met after I delivered a keynote at the Dell Technologies Executive Networking Forum – thanks again, Steve Young.
My theme of Digital Curiosity matched her curiosity, making it a perfect fit for a podcast.
She will be joining me later next month at The Roof Gardens in the next instalment of my series on AI for club members and guests.