Prime Minister Keir Starmer today unveiled an ambitious national AI strategy aimed at delivering £47billion in annual benefits for the economy and more than 13,000 jobs over the next decade.
The comprehensive plan commits to implementing all 50 recommendations from Matt Clifford’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, marking a significant shift from previous Government approaches.
New AI Growth Zones will be established across the country, designed to streamline planning permissions and ensure adequate energy infrastructure for AI development.
Three major tech companies – Vantage Data Centres, Nscale and Kyndryl – have pledged £14billion in investment to build vital AI infrastructure across the UK. This investment is expected to create 13,250 new jobs throughout the country.
“Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country,” said Prime Minister Starmer. “But the AI industry needs a Government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers.
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The Prime Minister confirmed the Government’s plan to use AI to bolster the economy
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“The initiative aims to fully embrace artificial intelligence’s potential, with the International Monetary Fund estimating it could boost productivity by up to 1.5 percentage points annually.
AI is already transforming healthcare across the UK, with hospitals using the technology to detect pain levels in non-verbal patients and accelerate breast cancer diagnoses.
“From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people,” Starmer stated.
The plan aims to reduce administrative burdens on teachers, allowing them to focus more on classroom instruction. AI-powered cameras will be deployed to identify road damage, improving infrastructure maintenance efficiency.
Last week, Reeves visited China as part of the Government’s efforts to get more business in the UK
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“Today’s plan mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation – revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets,” the Prime Minister explained.
The UK’s approach draws on lessons from both US and EU strategies, aiming to deliver what the government describes as “dynamism, flexibility and long-term stability” for businesses.
This £14billion investment from tech giants represents a major boost to Britain’s AI infrastructure ambitions. Vantage Data Centres, Nscale and Kyndryl’s commitment comes on top of £25billion in AI investment secured during the International Investment Summit.
The funding will support the development of essential infrastructure needed to harness AI’s full potential across the country. The Prime Minister added: “In a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.”
“Our plan will make Britain the world leader,” Starmer added. “It will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change.”
The Government expects these investments to deliver tangible benefits to working people, with the Prime Minister promising “more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.”
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Ai is the way forward for the British economy, according to the Prime Minister
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The Prime Minister positioned the AI strategy as central to his Government’s vision for national renewal. “That’s the change this government is delivering,” Starmer declared, emphasising his administration’s commitment to proactive AI development.
The plan represents a decisive break from previous approaches, with the government pledging to remove longstanding barriers to growth in the sector. Starmer’s Government aims to establish the UK as a unique player in the global AI landscape, balancing innovation with stability.
The comprehensive strategy seeks to address what the Government describes as “blockers” that have previously dominated public discourse around AI development.
By implementing all 50 recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Government aims to create a robust foundation for industry growth. The initiative demonstrates the UK’s ambition to carve out its own path in AI development, distinct from both US and EU approaches.