UKAI highlights the need for inclusivity as the Government unveils its ambitious AI strategy. “The Government’s AI action plan focus is too narrow and must benefit the whole economy to deliver growth,” says UK’s trade body, UKAI.
Today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will launch the AI Opportunities Action Plan, an initiative designed to position the UK as a global AI leader. Backed by £14 billion in private investment and the promise of over 13,000 new jobs, the plan outlines a vision for transformative growth. However, UKAI, the UK’s trade body for AI businesses, urges the Government to broaden its focus to include smaller businesses, creative industries, and non-tech sectors. Chamber UK calls for an AI strategy that balances ambition with inclusivity, ensuring that every part of the economy benefits.
A Transformational Moment for UK AI
Artificial intelligence sits at the core of the Government’s vision for the next decade, with the AI Opportunities Action Plan promising to reshape the economy and transform public services. Announcing the plan, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared:
“AI will drive incredible change in our country. From personalising education to improving NHS diagnostics, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people. But in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by – we must act to win the global race.” – Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer
Starmer emphasised that the plan is not just about supporting the tech elite. “Our plan will make Britain the world leader. That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services,” he said.
Key Features of the AI Opportunities Action Plan
The plan, described as a cornerstone of the Government’s “Plan for Change,” includes initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and addressing AI’s energy and infrastructure needs. Highlights include:
- AI Growth Zones: Dedicated areas like Culham, Oxfordshire, will fast-track planning permissions and provide enhanced energy connectivity to support data centres and other AI infrastructure.
- Compute Power Expansion: The Government aims to increase public compute capacity twentyfold by 2030, starting with a state-of-the-art supercomputer.
- Public Sector AI Adoption: AI will be deployed to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure maintenance.
- Energy Strategy for AI: A new AI Energy Council will work on addressing the technology’s energy demands, supporting the UK’s goal of becoming a clean energy superpower.
UKAI: A Call for a Broader Approach
While UKAI welcomes the Action Plan, it warns that the Government’s focus on frontier technologies and big tech risks sidelining other vital parts of the economy. Speaking about the plan, Tim Flagg, UKAI’s Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the need for greater inclusivity:
“AI innovation spans industries, from small enterprises to non-tech sectors, all driving the new industrial revolution. It’s time the Government recognised this broader definition and tapped into the full potential of AI across the UK.”
UKAI identifies two critical areas that require more attention in the plan:
- Everyday AI Skills: While the Action Plan prioritises technical skills such as advanced AI research, it overlooks the pressing need for basic AI literacy and practical analytical skills. Flagg explained, “Businesses across the country need everyday AI skills to boost productivity. Reforms to the national curriculum should ensure these skills are taught from primary education onwards.”
- Intellectual Property (IP): Creative industries are feeling left out, as the Action Plan gives little attention to the protection of IP. “Creators and tech platforms alike must be recognised as integral parts of the AI ecosystem,” Flagg argued.
UKAI has also called for regular and meaningful dialogue between the Government and businesses. “In a fast-changing sector, listening to businesses should not be a one-off event, but a regular dialogue,” Flagg said.
Striking a Balance
The AI Opportunities Action Plan needs to widen its focus. The AI Growth Zones and compute infrastructure are necessary and ambitious steps, but without addressing the immediate needs of smaller businesses and creative industries, these advancements may fail to deliver broad economic benefits.
The Government’s promise to “turbocharge growth” can only be realised if all sectors are equipped to adopt AI technologies. This includes practical training programmes for non-technical staff and tailored support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to navigate AI integration. The plan must better articulate how it will support regional economies beyond key tech hubs.
Bringing in the Voices of Industry
Microsoft UK CEO Darren Hardman described the plan as “exactly what’s needed to drive economic growth, transform public services, and create new opportunities for all.”
Dario Amodei, Co-Founder of AI company Anthropic, applauded the infrastructure investment, saying: “The UK could be among the first and fastest governments in the world to transform how services are delivered to its citizens.”
Matt Clifford CBE said:
“This is a plan which puts us all-in – backing the potential of AI to grow our economy, improve lives for citizens, and make us a global hub for AI investment and innovation.
“AI offers opportunities we can’t let slip through our fingers, and these steps put us on the strongest possible footing to ensure AI delivers in all corners of the country, from building skills and talent to revolutionising our infrastructure and compute power.”
Alex Kendall OBE, Co-Founder and CEO, Wayve, said:
“Embodied AI in highly regulated sectors, like automated vehicles, will require international regulatory collaboration.
“I’m excited to see the government use the levers at its disposal to help make the UK’s leading AI startups winners on the global stage. We now welcome the new targeted support for international expansion for AI scale-ups, and will pursue our global growth goals with the confidence that we have the UK Government’s full support.”
Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, said:
“From the locomotive to the Colossus computer, the UK has a rich history of leadership in tech innovation and the research and development of AI.
“The government’s AI action plan — led by the Prime Minister and Secretary Peter Kyle — recognises where AI development is headed and sets the UK on the right path to benefit from its growth. The UK has an enormous national resource in the talent of its people, institutions and businesses which together, can leverage AI to advance the country’s national interest.”
Aidan Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO of Cohere, said:
“With AI unlocking productivity gains and boosting business growth, we welcome the government’s focus and attention to foster this generational economic transformation.
“Cohere has long viewed the UK as a hotbed of industry talent and a market highly supportive of technology innovation, which is why we were among the earliest foundational model companies to build a major presence in the country, and why we have doubled down here over the last year.”
Tim Bestwick, Deputy CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), said:
“AI and High-Performance Computing are central to UKAEA’s mission to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy.
“UKAEA welcomes the AI Opportunities Action Plan and its vision for building cutting-edge AI infrastructure to drive innovation and develop the ‘industries of the future’. As highlighted in the Action Plan, Culham Campus’ high-capacity and connection to the UK’s national electricity grid, coupled with its available land on the Campus, positions it as a prime location for deploying substantial computing facilities.”
Julian David OBE, CEO of techUK, said:
“Through this announcement the Prime Minister has set out how the Government sees AI as central to their plan for change.
“These well thought out initiatives will boost the UK’s AI capabilities with positive effects across our society and economy.
“Now that the Government has set out its Plan, it is time to act, and at pace. To drive new investment, Industry will want to see more detail on how this plan will be actioned within the next six months, particularly as we face growing competition from other countries.”
Final Thought: Realising the Vision
The AI Opportunities Action Plan represents a critical moment for AI in the UK, offering the potential to position the country as a global leader. However, as UKAI has highlighted, this vision must be inclusive to succeed.
By addressing the skills gap, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring SMEs and creative industries are included in the strategy, the Government can unlock AI’s full potential across every sector of the economy.
Tim Flagg summed it up: “AI companies are at the coalface of the new industrial revolution – no one knows these issues better or is more driven to solve them.” With regular consultation and collaboration, the UK can ensure its AI ambitions lead to a more prosperous and equitable future for all.
For more of Chamber UK’s analysis on the Government’s plans for AI growth and innovation, please click here.
About UKAI
UKAI is the UK’s only trade association for AI businesses, committed to driving economic growth and social progress across the UK. The association provides a platform for AI businesses, investors, and policymakers to collaborate and drive innovation.
To learn more about becoming a member of UKAI, visit: https://ukai.co/membership/