In-Short
- UK Government shifts AI strategy to focus on public sector adoption, reducing direct industry investment.
- £1.3 billion in AI investments cancelled, including a significant supercomputer project.
- Government enlists tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford to draft new AI strategy ahead of the autumn budget.
- Concerns arise over the UK’s commitment to AI innovation compared to other countries like France.
Summary of the UK’s Adjusted AI Strategy
The UK Government, under new leadership, is revising its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) by prioritizing the technology’s adoption within the public sector and scaling back direct investments in the industry. This move comes as part of broader cost-cutting measures to address a £22 billion deficit in public finances. The government has already cancelled £1.3 billion in planned AI investments, including an £800 million supercomputer for the University of Edinburgh, drawing criticism from industry leaders who fear a waning interest in supporting innovation.
Contrastingly, France has recently committed €2.5 billion to domestic AI development, highlighting the UK’s more conservative stance. Additionally, there are rumors that the French government has dropped plans for an AI Safety Institute in San Francisco, which was expected to open with high-paying roles.
The UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) suggests that the new strategy aims to differentiate from the previous administration’s policies. Tech minister Peter Kyle has removed Nitarshan Rajkumar, a co-founder of the AI Safety Institute, from his advisory role, raising questions among experts.
Matt Clifford, a tech entrepreneur, has been tasked with drafting the new AI strategy, set to be unveiled in September before the autumn budget. The government’s spokesperson assures that AI’s transformative potential is still recognized, and the focus will be on leveraging AI to enhance public services and reduce costs, rather than on direct industry investment.
During discussions with venture capitalists and tech companies at Downing Street, the emphasis was on AI’s role in public services, support for university spin-outs, and facilitating overseas hiring for start-ups. Despite the government’s “bold approach” to AI, there is concern about the potential reduction in ambition for the UK’s AI sector.
Further Reading and Credits
For more detailed information on the UK’s AI strategy and its implications, please visit the original source.
Image credit: Chris Boland
