Burak Bir
13 January 2025•Update: 13 January 2025
LONDON
The British government has planned to develop a new strategy to advance the nation's artificial intelligence (AI) sector, which will raise living standards and economic growth by generating thousands of new jobs.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which would help contribute to a "decade of national renewal" and "turbocharge growth and boost living standards."
It came after 50 recommendations from Matt Clifford, tasked by the government as AI advisor last summer, according to a statement by Starmer's office.
The prime minister has thrown the "full weight of Whitehall" behind this industry by agreeing to implement all 50 recommendations set out by Clifford in his game-changing AI Opportunities Action Plan, it added.
The action plan is backed by leading tech firms, which have committed £14 billion (approximately $17 billion) towards various projects, creating 13,250 jobs.
Unveiling details of the AI Opportunities Action Plan later Monday, Starmer is expected to say AI has the potential to speed up planning consultations to get Britain building, help drive down admin for teachers so they can get on with teaching our children, and feed AI through cameras to spot potholes and help improve roads.
"Today’s plan mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation – revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets," added the statement.
It also includes plans for growth zones where development will be focused, and the technology will be used to help tackle issues.
"It (the plan) will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change. That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services," Starmer said in the statement.
Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said with this plan, the British government is determined to ensure that the UK will not fall behind in the global race for AI.
"Attracting AI businesses to the UK, bringing in new investment, creating new jobs and turbocharging our Plan for Change. This means better living standards in every part of the United Kingdom and working people have more money in their pocket," noted Rachel Reeves, chancellor of the Exchequer.
'Defining opportunity' of our generation
During his address in central London, Starmer set out plans to use the technology to boost growth as he said AI is the "defining opportunity" for our generation.
The prime minister admitted concerns over safety issues when it comes to AI and "understands" that change on this scale and at this speed can be worrying, however, he stressed that governments should not just focus on safety and "leave the rest to the market."
"A battle for the jobs of tomorrow – is happening today," he added.
Saying that the UK has already attracted more than £25 billion ($30.3 billion) of private sector investment in new UK data centers, Starmer pledged to "run further and faster."
He also announced to create a national data library of public sector data that will be used to train AI models.
Starmer said that US-based firm Kyndryl is investing in a new technology hub in Liverpool that alone will create a thousand new jobs.
"And also that Nscale are investing £2 billion ($2.43 billion) and Vantage Data Centers another £12 billion ($14.5 billion) making £14 billion ($17 billion) of new investment in data centres across the UK creating another 12,000 jobs."
He added: "AI has arrived, our defining opportunity is here and together – we will harness it for the good of our country."
