Reports from the UK government or credible technology publications

UK PM Starmer's AI Opportunities Action Plan Aims to Boost Economy with £14 Billion Investment and 13,000 Jobs

Jan 12, 2025, 11:44 PM

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a comprehensive 50-point plan to position the United Kingdom as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Opportunities Action Plan includes the creation of AI 'growth zones' starting in Culham, Oxfordshire, to accelerate the development of data centers and improve energy access. The government aims to increase the UK's computing capacity by 20 times by 2030, including the construction of a new supercomputer. Starmer's initiative also involves establishing a National Data Library and an AI Energy Council to manage the sector's energy demands. The plan is expected to attract significant private sector investment, with commitments of £14 billion from tech companies like Vantage Data Centres, Kyndryl, and Nscale, potentially creating over 13,000 jobs. The government's strategy is to leverage AI to boost economic growth by up to £47 billion annually over a decade, enhance public services, and improve living standards across the UK, with a potential productivity increase of 1.5% per year.