Parliament Street, one of the UK’s leading cross-party think tanks, has appointed Steven George-Hilley as its first-ever Director of Artificial Intelligence. The newly created role comes as the UK government accelerates efforts to integrate AI into public services following its new partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
The government’s deal with OpenAI aims to boost productivity across key departments, including justice, defence, education, and national security. AI is expected to play a growing role in streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery in these sectors.
George-Hilley, founder of the technology communications firm Centropy PR, will spearhead Parliament Street’s AI policy initiatives and work with industry leaders to develop frameworks for responsible AI deployment in public sector projects. He will also lead discussions with businesses on partnership opportunities and AI service integration.
Established in 2012, Parliament Street operates as an independent, non-partisan think tank, connecting policymakers and businesses through research, debates, and events in both Houses of Parliament. George-Hilley joined the organisation in 2013 as Technology Director, where he led several high-profile liaison programmes with government ministers from both Labour and Conservative administrations. His work has focused on promoting best practices in emerging technologies, including analytics, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
The appointment follows the government’s recent unveiling of a national blueprint for AI regulation, designed to foster innovation by allowing new AI technologies to be tested under less restrictive conditions. Announced by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on 21 October in London, the plan includes establishing an AI Growth Lab to enable companies to trial products in real-world environments across key sectors such as healthcare, transport, and advanced manufacturing. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to “accelerate the responsible development and deployment of AI products,” according to the government.
Patrick Sullivan, Chairman of Parliament Street, welcomed the appointment, saying: “Our think tank has been producing agenda-setting research and policies for over a decade. With AI set to reshape the business and public service landscape, I am delighted to appoint Steven to lead our efforts in this critical area.”
In response, George-Hilley said the new role comes at a pivotal moment for UK technology policy. “AI has the potential to transform public services beyond all recognition, saving billions for institutions like the NHS,” he said. “However, it also poses major challenges in security, privacy, and ethics. Parliament Street will continue to serve as a bridge between private enterprise and the public sector to ensure the UK becomes a global leader in ethical AI deployment.”
