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UK: AI Opportunities Action Plan

 

The UK Government released their 'AI Opportunities Action Plan' this month. With 50 recommendations across key areas, the plan aims to ramp up AI adoption across the UK to boost economic growth, provide jobs for the future and improve people's everyday lives – strengthening the UK's global competitiveness in AI adoption and development.

With an emphasis on positioning the UK to be an 'AI maker, not just an AI taker', some of the key initiatives include:

  • Create AI Growth Zones: New data centres to power AI sustainability initiatives, enhanced digital and energy infrastructure and local job creation.
  • Increase Computing Power: Expanding the UK's AI public sector computing power capacity twentyfold by 2030, which is expected to increase availability for researchers and SME's and supports scientific and medical research.
  • Upskill Workforce and Increase AI Talent: Provide more training for staff and AI professionals, increase the number of AI graduates and create new pathways into the AI profession.
  • Pilots for Public Services: Pilot new ways to accelerate and improve public services with AI, including employing a flexible ‘Scan, Pilot, Scale’ approach to adoption of AI across public services.
  • Strengthen Sovereign AI Capabilities: Supporting national champions, hiring and partnering with more UK-based AI companies in Government work and making public sector data sets available to support AI research and innovation through the creation of the National Data Library.
  • Enhance Regulation: Continue to support and grow the AI Safety Institute (AISI), work and guide regulators to prioritise and drive responsible AI adoption, increase funding for regulators to strengthen AI capabilities and ensure a competitive copyright regime that supports both the AI sector and the creative industries.

To read the full AI Opportunities Action Plan, please visit the GOV.UK website.

On Wednesday 29th January 2025, our Head of AiLab, Dr. John Flackett, gave a talk on UK's AI Action Plan at the 'Business South: People South Action Group', where John also spoke about AI Skills Development and AI in Human Resources.

John will also be giving another presentation on the UK's AI Action Plan at the 'Business South's AI Breakfast Briefing' on Thursday 20th March 2025 at Kimbridge Barn. This event in partnership with Business South, AiLab and Lester Aldridge. To book your ticket, please visit the Business South website.