UK PM Starmer Aims to Position Britain as Global AI Leader

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to establish the UK as a world leader in artificial intelligence (AI), Arab News reported. In a speech on Monday, he emphasized the importance of AI in driving economic growth, projecting a potential productivity increase of 1.5% annually, equating to an additional £47 billion over a decade.

Starmer’s strategy includes creating special zones for data centers, facilitating planning permissions, and enhancing energy connections, with the first center planned for Culham, Oxfordshire. The government will implement all 50 recommendations from the “AI Opportunities Action Plan,” submitted by venture capitalist Matt Clifford.

Despite Britain’s position as the third-largest AI market globally, challenges remain, including business confidence issues stemming from recent tax policies. Starmer highlighted AI’s potential to improve various sectors, urging swift action in the face of global competition. “We must move fast and take action,” he stated, underlining the urgency of his vision for the future.