Britain’s prime minister says artificial intelligence has the potential to ‘transform the lives of working people’.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a 50-point plan to make the UK a “world leader” in artificial intelligence (AI) and deliver a “decade of national renewal”.
The AI Capabilities Action Plan, which Starmer will present in a speech on Monday, will create dedicated AI growth zones to “turbo growth” and “increase living standards”, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Prime Minister’s Office said in a joint statement in Sunday.
The growth zones, the first of which will be established in Culham, Oxfordshire, will have faster data center planning approvals and better access to the energy grid, it said.
The draft, which adopts all 50 recommendations made by venture capitalist Matt Clifford in a report commissioned by the Labor government last year, also proposes a 20-fold increase in state-owned AI computing capacity, as well as the establishment of a National Data Library and a dedicated AI Energy Council .
“Artificial intelligence will drive incredible changes in our country. From teachers personalizing lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to change the lives of employees,” said Starmer.
“But the AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through their fingers. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand aside.”
Starmer’s announcement comes as his Labor government is losing support after just six months in power amid sluggish economic conditions.
The UK economy grew by 0 percent during the third quarter of 2024, raising fears that the country could be headed for its second recession within a year.
The Starmer government has estimated that artificial intelligence could deliver 47 billion pounds ($57 million) in economic benefits each year over a decade, based on analysis by the International Monetary Fund that showed the technology could boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year.
The United Kingdom ranks third in AI capability globally, behind China and the United States, according to Stanford University’s 2023 Global AI Vibrancy Index.
“Our plan will make Britain a world leader. It will give the industry the foundation it needs and drive the Agenda for Change,” Starmer said, detailing the six milestones he has set for his government, including raising living standards for households and reducing hospital waiting lists.
“This means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets and transformed public services. That is the change this government is bringing.”
