Artificial Intelligence: Plan to 'unleash AI' across UK revealed

The UK government plans to promote the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) nationwide to boost economic growth and improve public service efficiency. This initiative, named the "AI Opportunity Action Plan," will be unveiled on Monday and is backed by several leading technology companies that have pledged £14 billion for various projects, which are expected to create 13,250 jobs.

The plan includes establishing key growth areas and utilizing AI technology to address issues such as road potholes. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated in an interview with the BBC, "I want to ensure that AI benefits everyone from all backgrounds, every community in the UK."

Last summer, the government commissioned AI advisor Matt Clifford to develop the UK's AI action plan. He proposed 50 recommendations, all of which are currently being implemented. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that AI "will drive huge changes in the country" and "has the potential to transform the lives of working people." He also added, "Our plan will make the UK a world leader."

In an interview with the BBC, Kyle said that the UK is fully capable of creating technology companies on the scale of Google, Amazon, and Apple. "Currently, we don't have any British-owned, cutting-edge companies with frontier concepts. We had DeepMind, which originated in the UK but is now US-owned," he stated. "Now we want to retain all the elements that enable innovation and investment of that scale to exist in the UK." DeepMind developed technology that allows computers to play video and board games. It was founded by three University College London students and later acquired by Google.

The government estimates, based on data from the International Monetary Fund, that fully embracing AI could bring an average of up to £47 billion in economic benefits to the UK annually over the next decade. AI will be utilized in the public sector, enabling staff to reduce administrative work time and dedicate more time to providing services. Additionally, multiple "AI growth zones" will be established across the UK, involving large construction projects and new job opportunities. AI will also analyze data from cameras nationwide to inspect roads and identify potholes needing repair. Teachers and small business owners are considered two groups that could use AI for faster planning and record-keeping. AI is already being used in UK hospitals for critical tasks such as faster cancer diagnoses and will continue to support the National Health Service.

Technology companies Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl have pledged £14 billion to build related AI infrastructure in the UK. This investment is in addition to the £25 billion in AI investment announced at the international investment summit. Vantage Data Centres is building one of Europe's largest data center campuses in Wales. Kyndryl will create up to 1,000 AI-related jobs in Liverpool over the next three years, forming a new tech hub. Nscale has signed a contract to establish an AI data center in Loughton, Essex, by 2026.

The government stated that "AI growth zones" will be established across the UK, and rapid planning proposals will be developed to create new infrastructure. The first growth zone will be located in Culham, Oxfordshire, with more growth zones to be announced this summer, focusing on de-industrialized areas. Kyle stated, "I want to find those areas that really need future employment opportunities because past employment opportunities have begun to decline, and utilize the fact that these areas often have very good grid connections that can currently provide surplus energy."

Other parts of the plan include a new national data library to securely protect public data and an AI energy council led by Kyle and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, which will focus on the technology's energy demands. The Conservative Party stated that the government's plan "will not support the UK becoming a tech and science superpower." Shadow Technology Secretary Alan Mark accused them of cutting £1.3 billion in funding for "the UK's first next-generation supercomputer and AI research," stating that Labour is "pushing an analog government in a digital age." He added, "AI does have the potential to transform public services, but Labour's economic mismanagement and lack of an attractive plan will mean the UK will be left behind."

However, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves stated, "AI is a powerful tool that will help boost our economic growth, improve public service efficiency, and open up new opportunities to help raise living standards."