UK Prime Minister says AI has potential to ‘transform workers’ lives’
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a 50-point plan aimed at making the UK a “world leader” in artificial intelligence (AI) and launching a “decade of national renewal”.
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, due to be presented in a speech by Starmer on Monday, will create dedicated AI growth zones to “boost growth” and “improve living standards”, they said the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Prime Minister’s Office. in a joint statement on Sunday.
The growth areas, the first of which will be established in Culham, Oxfordshire, will benefit from faster planning approvals for data centers and better access to the energy network, the statement said.
The plan, which adopts 50 recommendations made by venture capitalist Matt Clifford in a report commissioned by the Labor Party government last year, also proposes a 20-fold increase in state-owned AI computing capacity as well as the creation of a national data library. and a dedicated AI Energy Council.
“Artificial intelligence will bring incredible changes to our country. “Whether it’s teachers customizing courses, supporting small businesses with their record keeping, or expediting scheduling applications, it has the potential to transform workers’ lives,” said Starmer.
“But the AI industry needs a government that stands by it, that doesn’t stand idly by and let opportunities slip away. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand idly by. »
Starmer’s announcement comes as his Labor government is hemorrhaging support after just six months in office amid a gloomy economic backdrop.
The UK economy recorded 0% growth in the third quarter of 2024, raising fears that the country could be heading into its second recession in the space of a year.
Starmer’s government has estimated that AI could account for £47 billion ($57 million) in economic gains each year over a decade, based on an International Monetary Fund analysis that found the technology could increase productivity up to 1.5 percentage points per year. .
The UK ranks third in the world for AI prowess, after China and the US, according to the 2023 Global AI Vibrancy Rankings compiled by Stanford University.
“Our plan will make Britain the world leader. This will give the industry the foundation it needs and boost the plan for change,” Starmer said, referring to the six steps he set out for his government, including improving household living standards and reduction of hospital waiting lists.
“That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets and transformed public services. This is the change that this government is bringing.
