Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in UK and Africa Case Study Cocreation Workshop Report

Ochang, Paschal; Eke, Damian; Stahl, Bernd; Cameron, Harriet; Buckley, Matt; Poder, Irma; Rodrigues, Rowena

Abstract

The University of Nottingham hosted a co-creational workshop from 29th to 31st January at the Jubilee Hotel & Conference facilities, bringing together participants from the RAISE project’s case studies across the UK and Africa. The workshop focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) utilising generative AI for their products and services that form part of the RAISE case studies. The aim was to explore the challenges of integrating responsible research and innovation (RRI) practices into AI applications and to get feedback on current Responsible Artificial Intelligence (RAI) guidelines including the first draft of the RAISE guidelines.
The workshop also evaluated tools for assessing AI’s responsible use, including the UK Government’s AI Management Essentials, ALTAI, and Microsoft’s Responsible AI Impact Assessment Tool. While these tools were considered useful, participants highlighted issues with their formatting and suggested improvements, such as the ability to save progress and revisit answers. Feedback on the RAISE guidelines emphasised the need for adaptable, SME-focused frameworks and a maturity scoring system to prioritise RRI elements at various stages of development. The workshop highlighted the challenges SMEs face in adopting responsible AI practices and will inform updates to the RAISE guidelines to better support SMEs in integrating responsible AI strategies

Citation

Ochang, P., Eke, D., Stahl, B., Cameron, H., Buckley, M., Poder, I., & Rodrigues, R. (2025). Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in UK and Africa Case Study Cocreation Workshop Report. ESPRC and RAI UK

• Report Type: Project Report
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2025
• Pages: 1-14
• Series Title: Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in UK and Africa (RAISE) Co-creation Workshop Series
• Series Number: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.17639/NJQP-A207
• Keywords: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), AI Guidelines for SMEs, Generative AI, AI Policy Recommendations, Responsible AI in Africa, Generative AI Challenges, Mitigation Strategies
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/46192218