What are the key points in the government's AI action plan?

Sir Keir Starmer will throw the full weight of Whitehall behind AI in a bid to boost growth on Monday.

The prime minister is set to unveil his government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan as he seeks to make Britain a world leader in the sector.

He said: “The AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t slip back and let opportunities slip through its fingers.

“And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.”

Arguing that embracing AI could boost GDP, ministers hope Monday’s announcement will bring some optimism amid headlines warning of sluggish growth, inflation and the rising cost of borrowing.

The government is not just hoping to attract AI investment with its action plan, but also spur the adoption of the technology across Whitehall in a bid to improve productivity and cut costs.

Sir Keir has personally written to cabinet ministers ordering them to make driving AI adoption and growth in their departments a top priority.

New teams will be set up to pilot AI in the public sector and keep the UK at the cutting edge of emerging technology.What does the action plan promise?

Monday’s plan will take forward all 50 recommendations made by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who was commissioned by Science Secretary Peter Kyle in July to come up with a plan to identify AI opportunities.
The creation of a series of AI “growth zones”, starting in Culham, Oxfordshire, where it will accelerate planning approvals for data centres and improve access to the energy grid.
An increase in the UK’s compute capacity 20-fold by 2030, including by building a new supercomputer.
A sharp change from the approach of the previous government, which they say focused too much on safety and not enough on the opportunities AI provided.
The government is currently consulting with artists and media companies after complaints that AI developers’ use of their material to train programmes such as Chat-GPT has infringed their copyright.
A new approach to building the infrastructure required to develop AI, including building more data centres.
The government will have to address the energy and water needs of the AI industry, with the technology requiring significant amounts of both to operate.
Alongside Monday’s announcement, the government revealed tech companies had committed a total of £14bn of investment in AI infrastructure in the UK, expected to create 13,250 jobs.

What has the opposition said?

Shadow science secretary Alan Mak said Labour’s plan “will not support the UK to become a tech and science superpower”. Adding they’re “delivering analogue government in a digital age”.

“Shaping a successful AI future requires investment, but in the six months leading up to this plan, Labour cut £1.3bn in funding for Britain’s first next-generation supercomputer and AI research whilst imposing a national insurance jobs tax that will cost business in the digital sector £1.66bn.

“AI does have the potential to transform public services, but Labour’s economic mismanagement and uninspiring plan will mean Britain is left behind.”