UK Modifies AI Strategy Amid Budgetary Challenges
The new UK Government is crafting an AI policy focused on enhancing the use of AI within the public sector as opposed to direct financial support to the industry. This strategic pivot is part of a larger effort to reduce expenses prior to the upcoming autumn budget analysis.
Following their entry into office, the current administration has reevaluated the AI spending commitments and has halted £1.3 billion in AI tech investments previously planned by their predecessors. This includes cancelling an £800 million fund designated for a supercomputer project at the University of Edinburgh.
The £1.3 billion cut, while modest in the grand canvas of AI investments, has drawn criticism from numerous sector leaders who view it as a decrease in governmental support for technological innovation. This is in sharp contrast to actions by the French government, which has recently committed €2.5 billion (£2.1 billion) to foster domestic AI development.
Unverified sources indicate that the French government has halted plans to open its AI Safety Institute at its San Francisco location, which was slated to launch this summer, offering significant salaries exceeding $100,000.
A person close to the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) suggests this change may be part of a strategic realignment under the new administration, differentiating it from its predecessor’s policies.
Furthermore, Tech minister Peter Kyle has relieved Nitarshan Rajkumar, a co-founder of the AI Safety Institute, from his role as a senior policy advisor. This move has sparked discussions among experts, as it’s common for new governments to appoint their own advisory teams.
The government has engaged Matt Clifford, a tech entrepreneur known for his involvement in the previous year’s AI Safety Summit, to develop a new strategy. This strategy is expected to be unveiled in September, in anticipation of the upcoming autumn budget.
A government spokesperson affirmed their belief in AI’s potential to reshape industries and emphasized their commitment to leveraging it for growth and creating opportunities across the UK.
Tech minister Kyle stated that the government would prioritize enhancing AI use in the public sector to cut costs, even if this means reducing direct investments in the sector.
In November last year, the UK hosted the inaugural AI Safety Summit, bringing together world leaders and prominent figures from the tech industry. The summit served as a crucial point to evaluate both the dangers and advantages of AI. Subsequently, the DSIT has begun recruiting economists to assess AI’s impact throughout the UK.
A meeting at Downing Street, led by Clifford, saw discussions with key venture capitalists and tech firms about the national AI agenda. Discussions focused on AI’s potential to enhance public services, its role in supporting university spin-out firms, and its utility in facilitating the recruitment of overseas talent by start-ups.
The government asserts that making tough choices is essential for mitigating a £22 billion deficit in the public sector, a situation attributed to the actions of the prior government.
Tech minister Kyle has mentioned adopting a “bold approach” towards AI development, although there is a sense of apprehension among stakeholders about a possible de-escalation in AI initiatives.
See also: UK backs smaller AI projects while scrapping major investments
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