Government review outlines plan for UK to become AI ‘world leader’

The independent report puts forth recommendations to help the UK become a ‘world leader’ in AI.

Led by Dame Wendy Hall, professor of computer science at the University of Southampton, and Jérôme Pesenti, chief executive of BenevolentTech, the review predicts AI could unlock £630bn for the UK’s economy by 2035.

Announced as part of the government’s digital strategy in March, the review makes 18 recommendations on how government, industry and academia can work together, “for the UK to become the best place in the world for businesses developing and deploying AI to start, grow and thrive”.

The review proposes the introduction of more research on AI in different application areas and the coordination of research capabilities.

Specifically, it recommends that the Alan Turing Institute should become the national institute for artificial intelligence and data science, that universities should promote standardisation in transfer of IP, and that computing capacity for AI research should be coordinated and negotiated.

Other recommendations include: the development of data trusts to improve ease around sharing data and an industry-funded masters programme in AI.

The culture secretary, Karen Bradley, said: “We already have some of the best minds in the world working on artificial intelligence, and the challenge now is to build a strong partnership with industry and academia to cement our position as the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business.”