UK PM Keir Starmer to announce new plans to transform the country into an 'AI superpower' - SiliconANGLE
Jan 13, 2025 - siliconangle.com
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a plan to significantly enhance the country's computing infrastructure to support the growth of domestic AI startups, aiming to rival companies like OpenAI. The "AI Opportunities Action Plan" includes increasing data center capacity by up to 20-fold by the decade's end, establishing "AI growth zones" with relaxed planning rules, and forming an "AI Energy Council" to explore renewable energy options for these centers. The initiative seeks to foster "sovereign AI" models, reducing reliance on Silicon Valley firms, and includes plans for a "National Data Library" to boost public-private cooperation. Despite funding challenges, the plan has been met with optimism from tech leaders, who emphasize the importance of a clear roadmap for achieving the UK's ambition to become an AI superpower.
The plan comes amid growing interest in sovereign AI among European governments, emphasizing domestic development of critical technologies for economic growth and national security. Starmer's initiative follows the cancellation of £1.3 billion in taxpayer funding for alternative AI projects previously announced by former PM Rishi Sunak. While funding remains a concern, with calls for pension funds to invest more in high-growth startups, the UK aims to introduce a more lenient regulatory framework for AI compared to the EU's stringent AI Act. The initiative reflects a broader trend of tech giants investing in low-carbon energy solutions, such as small modular reactors, to power data centers sustainably.
Key takeaways:
The UK government under PM Keir Starmer plans to increase the country's data center capacity by 20-fold to foster AI startups.
Starmer's initiative includes creating "AI growth zones" with relaxed planning rules and an "AI Energy Council" for renewable energy solutions.
The UK aims to establish a "National Data Library" to enhance cooperation between public institutions and the private sector.
Funding challenges persist for UK-based AI entrepreneurs, with calls for pension funds to invest more in high-growth startups.
