The National AI Strategy – Making The UK A Global AI Superpower

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The UK has a long and exceptional history in AI – from codebreaker Alan Turing’s early work through to London-based powerhouse DeepMind’s pioneering research which will enable quicker and more advanced drug discovery and is currently ranked third in the world for private venture capital investment into AI companies (2019 investment into the UK reached almost £2.5 billion) and is home to a third of Europe’s total AI companies. 

 

Furthering this, this month, the UK launches its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to help it strengthen its position as a global science superpower and seize the potential of modern technology to improve people’s lives and solve global challenges such as climate change and public health.

 

“Today we’re laying the foundations for the next ten years’ growth with a strategy

to help us seize the potential of artificial intelligence and play a leading role 

in shaping the way the world governs it.” – Minister Chris Philp

 

The UK’s first AI strategy marks a step change in the country’s approach to the fastest growing emerging technology in the world. With AI technologies underpinning increasingly more of the tech and apps we use on a daily basis - from helping us navigate around cities and stopping online banking fraud to enabling clinicians in improving their diagnosis of diseases and the creation driverless cars this sector will play an important role on the global economy over the coming decades and is an area that the UK needs to embrace if it is to stay at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry.

 

Also relating to the previous announcement of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), the plans will launch a new national programme and approach to support research and development, publish a white paper on the governance and regulation of AI to build confidence in its use, plus moves to support organisations in every region and sector capitalise on the power of AI technologies.

 

Alongside measures to develop the next generation of AI talent through continued support for postgraduate learning, retraining and making sure children from wide backgrounds can access specialist courses, the strategy will position the UK as a global leader in raising the standards around the use of the technology while building the case for deeper investor confidence. It includes proposals to:

 

• Launch a National AI Research and Innovation Programme to improve coordination and collaboration between the country’s researchers and help transform the UK’s AI capabilities, while boosting business and public sector adoption of AI technologies and their ability to take them to market.

 

• Support the government’s levelling up agenda by launching 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. This would focus on the commercialisation of ideas and could see, for example, the government focusing investment, researchers and developers to work in areas which currently do not use much AI technology but have great potential, such as energy and farming.

 

• Publish a joint review with UKRI into the availability and capacity of computing power for UK researchers and organisations, including the physical hardware needed to drive a major roll out in AI technologies. The review will also consider wider needs for the commercialisation and deployment of AI, including its environmental impacts.

 

• Launch a consultation on copyright and patents for AI through the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to make sure the UK is capitalising on the ideas it generates and by best supporting AI development and use through the copyright and patent system. This consultation will also include a focus on how to protect AI generated inventions which would otherwise not meet inventorship criteria as well as measures to make it easier to use copyright protected material in AI development.

 

• Trialing an AI Standards Hub to coordinate UK engagement in setting the rules globally, and working with The Alan Turing Institute to update guidance on AI ethics and safety in the public sector and create practical tools to make sure the technology is used ethically.

 

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 the other large tech markets of Germany, France and Israel combined.

 

The initial feedback from the announcement from within this industry has been very positive, with the following comments from prominent contributors:

 

“AI could deliver transformational benefits for the UK and the world - accelerating discoveries in science and unlocking progress on key challenges facing society. It’s great to see the scale of the opportunity recognised in the National AI Strategy, and I’m excited to see how it translates into action.” – Demis Hassabis, DeepMind Founder and CEO

 

“Today is an important step in furthering the UK’s strategic advantage as a global leader in AI.” – David Hogan, VP Enterprise EMEA at NVIDIA

 

“We support the Government’s AI strategy and ambition to maintain and build on the UK’s position as a world leader in this field. It’s important that we have the right ecosystems where we can carry out ground-breaking research quickly and with world-class partners…

The implementation of the strategy will help ensure the UK remains a leading destination for AI innovation.” – Tony Wood, Senior Vice President Medicinal Science and Technology at GSK

 

“We love the Government’s focus on AI and making the UK THE place for nurturing and growing the best talent in AI and machine learning.” – Harmeen Mehta, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer of BT Group

“We welcome the Government’s AI strategy because we believe AI can be used for the good of society. For Rolls-Royce, it’s critical to our net zero ambitions, the sustainability of our business and helping our customers.” – Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce

 

At Tech Nation, we’re thrilled with the announcement of this new AI Strategy. AI is one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech sectors, with venture capital investment in UK AI companies currently at $3.3bn thus far in 2021, already surpassing the $3bn invested in 2020.” – Gerard Grech, Tech Nation Founding CEO

 

“Today’s publication of the UK Government’s National AI Strategy is an opportunity to strengthen the UK’s position as a leading AI innovator.” – Jacqueline de Rojas, President of techUK

 

“The UK’s first national AI strategy is a major moment and we need to capitalise on this momentum to advance the UK’s international reputation in this broad discipline.” – Sir Adrian Smith, Institute Director and Chief Executive of The Alan Turing Institute

 

“I’m delighted to see the National AI Strategy published today, setting out a plan to cement the UK’s position as a global leader in the development and deployment of trustworthy AI.” – Edwina Dunn, Interim Chair of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation

 

Looking forward – The government will, later this year also launch a Defence AI Strategy, the new Defence AI Centre through the Ministry of Defence and begin engagement on the draft National Strategy for AI-driven technologies in Health and Social Care through the NHS AI Lab, so keep an eye out for more Foundations Insights on the Government’s AI plans in the coming months.

 

Let us know your thoughts on these latest Government’s proposed plans, and for more latest insights from Foundations Executive Search and information on how we can help you find the industry’s most talented candidates see more of our Latest Insights, or Contact Us directly.