The government has announced the launch of a new national Artificial Intelligence strategy to boost the business use of the technology, attract international investment, and develop talent in the sector.

Published on the third day of London Tech Week, the government said that the decade-long initiative would transform Britain into a global AI superpower.

The strategy includes a new white paper on the governance and regulation of AI and the launch of a new National AI Research and Innovation Programme to improve coordination between the country’s researchers.

The government also revealed plans for a joint Office for AI (OAI) and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) programme aimed at continuing to develop AI in sectors based outside of London and the South East, the publication of a joint review with UKRI into the availability and capacity of computing power for UK researchers and organisations, a consultation on copyright and patents for AI through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the trial of an AI Standards Hub to coordinate UK engagement in setting the rules globally, and updates to guidance on AI ethics and safety by working with The Alan Turing Institute.

Britain is already ranked third in the world, behind the USA and China, for private venture capital into AI companies. In 2019, investment in the UK AI sector reached nearly £2.5 billion.

“The strategy comes in the week new data shows global investors poured £13.5 billion into more than 1,400 UK private technology firms between January and June this year - more than that achieved in other large tech markets Germany, France and Israel combined,” said Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) minister Chris Philp. “It follows government investment of more than £2.3 billion into AI since 2014, and has a ten-year vision to transform the UK’s capabilities in AI in parallel with the rapid technological expansion around the world.”

The DCMS minister added that the government will launch a Defence AI Strategy later this year and begin engagement on the draft national strategy for AI-driven technologies in health and social care through the NHS AI Lab.

“AI technologies have the capacity to fundamentally transform many aspects of the way we live and work,” said Sir Patrick Vallance, government chief scientific advisor. “The UK is already a world leader in certain aspects of AI – and this strategy helps to define how to enhance those capabilities further to ensure that the UK can both develop and use AI for the benefit of citizens.”

Share Story: