How does a particle physicist end up shaping the UK Government’s approach to artificial intelligence? In this thought‑provoking episode, Andrew Grill sits down 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.

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 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.

Drawing on examples from her work in Whitehall, Laura discusses the realities of forecasting in AI, the danger of “buzzword chasing”, and why the next breakthrough in Artificial General Intelligence might well come from an unexpected player, possibly from within government itself.

This is a conversation for anyone curious about the intersection of science, policy, ethics, and technology, and how they can combine to make government more responsive, transparent, and human-centred.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Laura Gilbert moved from particle physics research into government AI leadership
• The strategic role of AI in shaping modern policy and public services
• Why forecasting in AI is harder than it looks—and how this impacts decision‑makers
• The balance between technical capability and human‑centred governance
• Why governments must look beyond the tech giants for innovative solutions
• Lessons from the Evidence House and AI for Public Good programmes

Resources

Tony Blair Global Institute Website
UK Government AI Incubator
Laura on LinkedIn
Raindrop.io bookmarking app

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