The UK government is set to unveil its plans to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) across the country to improve growth and efficiency in public services. The AI Opportunities Action Plan, being announced on Monday, will be supported by leading tech firms that have committed £14bn to various projects, creating over 13,000 jobs. The plan includes plans for growth zones where development will take place and where AI will be used to tackle challenges such as potholes.
Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, told the BBC that he wants to ensure that everyone benefits from AI, including individuals from various societal backgrounds and communities across the UK. The UK plans to create frontier conceptual and cutting-edge companies on a similar scale to Google, Amazon, and Apple, enabling innovation and investment to exist in the country. DeepMind, which was founded by three students at University College London but is now American-owned, created technology that enables computers to play video and board games.
Using figures from the International Monetary Fund, the UK government predicts that AI could be worth up to an average of £47bn annually to the country over a decade. AI will be used by the public sector to reduce the time spent doing administrative tasks and to focus on delivering efficient services. AI Growth Zones will be established across the UK, resulting in significant building projects and job creation. Teachers and small business owners could use AI to streamline their functions, which could lead to faster planning and record-keeping.
Moreover, the UK government has planned to establish an AI Energy Council that will focus on the energy demands of the technology; it will be led by Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, and Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband. The plan also includes a new National Data Library to secure public data and ensure its safe storage.
Tech companies Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl will commit £14bn to developing the relevant AI infrastructure in the UK, and the first AI Growth Zone will be established in Culham, Oxfordshire, with more to be announced this summer. The plan has faced criticism from the Conservatives, who state that it will not support the UK to become a tech and science superpower, leading to Britain being left behind. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has highlighted that AI is a powerful tool that will help improve living standards, grow the economy and make public services more efficient
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