Dr Paul Sant, Head of Computer Science at The University of Law, examines the crucial focus on developing advanced, secure, and sustainable uses of artificial intelligence in the UK, alongside supportive policies for the future
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a strategically important focus for the UK. To be successful, and in line with other priorities such as achieving ‘net-zero’ and ensuring the safety and security of users, it is vital to have an ever-increasing focus on attaining growth while caring for our planet. Developing the correct policy and regulatory framework to support this is vitally important.
The AI Opportunities Action Plan (January 2025) and the newly published Artificial Intelligence Playbook for UK Government provide a blueprint for establishing the infrastructure and solutions needed to catapult the UK forward in the adoption and effective use of AI.
Spearheading artificial intelligence in the UK
By spearheading and headlining AI as a focus, and developing the talent, and upskilling of those using AI, and by actively encouraging the adoption of AI, whilst ensuring appropriate regulation will mean that the public and industry will completely trust AI solutions, and will lead to a further ecosystem of innovation and exploitation of AI, whilst ensuring that the solutions are developed within a backdrop of regulation and compliance that will reassure government and the public.
A key and targeted focus on how and where to develop AI in the UK (e.g., AI growth zones) and having a clear and focused plan for developing homegrown talent will enable us to leverage and further develop the strong AI expertise that the UK already possesses.
The key to unlocking all this is to tap into the vast amounts of data that currently hold untapped insights, but to do so in an environment that is safe, secure, and trustworthy. Without this, developing innovative AI solutions may prove an insurmountable challenge.
A key to this will be securing funding, reaching the market first, and making public the progress being made, while protecting the innovations through effective patents.
The key to all of this, however, will be developing a homegrown AI pipeline, developing courses and training, including apprenticeships, and attracting global talent. After all, the systems of AI are built by humans, and so we need the talent in the first place to exploit the opportunities.
Britain must provide global AI leadership
It is vital that Britain provides global leadership, highlights its talent, and as outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government, secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI is needed.
The UK Government has already demonstrated its willingness to adopt Responsible AI, while also avoiding the risk of stifling innovation. The UK can and must take the lead in this area to become a global leader.
The UK has already committed to continuing to grow the AI Safety Institute, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is committed to funding this body.
Key to the success of this is further funding for regulators within sectors, so that they can also help drive and support the adoption of sage AI.
The key message from the UK Government to regulators is to encourage them to enable safe AI innovation, as many sectors will look to their regulators when considering the adoption of AI. Knowing it is encouraged and actively supported will drive forward AI growth. A key to this success will be investment in assurance tools to reassure these sectors that AI adoption is sage.
Looking ahead: The AI Opportunities Action Plan
In summary, the fifty recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan provide the foundation of a strong roadmap to ensure that Britain seizes opportunities, exploits innovation, and does so in an appropriate, regulated and secure manner to ensure it can maximise its opportunities.
The holistic focus of the recommendations, encouraging adoption across all levels and communities, along with careful messaging, can ensure that all sectors and the public can play a part in realising the AI opportunities at hand.
Having a key leader on board can drive it forward, but there is a need to ensure that the bodies set up can work across sectors.
The key focus is beginning by building on what we already have, bringing the different parties together (government, academia, industry and the public) and ensuring that everyone plays an active part in achieving the opportunities set out, establishing a common set of achievable goals with clear benefits signposted to all, which means that everything should work as a cohesive unit. The plan sets this out very clearly, with ‘partnership’ and ’working together’ as two key pillars.
Importantly, while it positions Britain as a leader, it is also clear that there is a need to collaborate with the EU and other interested parties, taking the lead on some initiatives and making a significant contribution to other areas. Importantly, the focus is on AI and its adoption across humanity, but on exploiting the excellent talent and opportunities that already exist and building upon these to make Britain a true AI superpower.
