- Prime Minister Keir Starmer aims to make the UK a global leader in artificial intelligence, hoping to boost the country’s struggling economy.
- His administration estimates that AI could add £47 billion ($57 billion) to the UK economy annually over the next decade.
- Three tech companies – Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl – have pledged to invest £14 billion in AI in the UK, creating over 13,000 jobs.
Here are the key points:
Sovereign AI Development: The UK aims to build its own AI models, with plans for a significant increase in public AI computing power by 2030, including a new supercomputer.
A national data library will be created to provide key datasets, balancing privacy and ethics.
Also, a cultural data library from institutions like the BBC is planned, with potential commercial use.
Private Sector Growth: The government will establish “AI growth zones” with streamlined processes for data centres and clean energy.
A headhunting unit will recruit top global AI talent, and new visa policies will help tech startups attract non-UK workers.
Sector champions will promote AI adoption in industries like banking and the creative sector.
A body called “UK Sovereign AI” will support entrepreneurs to create leading AI companies.
AI in Public Services: AI will be used by the public sector to enable its workers to spend less time doing admin and more time delivering services.
For instance: AI will help find potholes by using cameras across the country.
Teachers and small business owners can use AI to make planning and record-keeping easier.
Energy and AI: Recognizing AI’s energy demands, the government will use clean energy in AI growth zones.
UK will establish an AI energy council to promote renewable energy and small nuclear reactors for data centres.
AI and Copyright: The plan suggests updating the UK’s copyright rules to compete with the EU. It would let AI firms use copyrighted material, with an opt-out option for copyright holders. This proposal has been criticized by the creative industry.
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Ongoing concerns…
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said, “We’ve got to have an eye on safety as well as opportunity.”
In 2024, AI became a major focus, as leading companies introduced their own large language models (LLMs).
However, the rapid adoption of AI has sparked concerns about the need for regulation.
In response to the opportunities and risks posed by AI, an advisory body appointed by the UN Secretary-General has recommended the establishment of a global AI authority.
