In this episode of AI at Work, I catch up with Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, for a wide-ranging conversation on the changing landscape of open technology, AI transparency, and international collaboration.

We explore how OpenUK is working ahead of the market, helping shape policies and support for open source projects while responding to rising geopolitical tensions and funding pressures. Amanda explains how the UK occupies a unique position between the EU and the US and what that means for future AI standards and regulatory frameworks.

We also discuss:

• The sustainability challenges facing open source communities and maintainers
• Shifts in AI development, including legal and ethical questions around IP and model transparency
• The role of tools like Roost and initiatives like Current AI in creating practical solutions for AI governance
• Why "tools, not rules" may offer a more realistic path than top-down regulation
• The importance of keeping open source accessible as a route into the tech industry

Amanda shares her concerns about the rollback of EDI efforts and highlights how open communities can still offer a clear path into tech for people from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. We discuss OpenUK's upcoming skills report and how it aims to highlight open source as a solution to address the ongoing talent shortage.

Recorded ahead of International Women's Day, this episode also reflects on the slow progress around diversity and how leadership, policy, and community must come together to drive lasting change.

If you're interested in how policy, law, and open technology intersect with AI development, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective, clear examples, and real-world action.

🎧 Listen now and let us know where you think the future of open innovation is headed.