The UK government has announced an ambitious strategy for the development of artificial intelligence, which should turn the country into a global leader in this field. The plan includes the creation of geographic "AI Growth Zones" to accelerate infrastructure development, as well as attracting £14 billion ($17 billion) in private sector investment, which should create more than 13,000 new jobs, TechCrunch reports.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the initiative part of a "ten-year national renewal" that will replace the government's previous warnings about the risks of AI.
“Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country,” Starmer said. “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. And 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.”
The plan envisages the creation of AI Growth Zones in different regions of the country. The first such zone will be the city of Culham in Oxfordshire. In these zones, the planning process will be accelerated for the construction of data centers, research hubs, and other infrastructure for AI development.
In addition, the plan provides for a twenty-fold increase in the computing power of public systems and the construction of a new supercomputer. The government will also create a National Data Library for the centralized storage of public data and its use in AI development. The newly created Energy Council will deal with energy consumption of new technologies.