Press release: AI expert to lead Action Plan to ensure UK reaps the benefits of Artificial Intelligence
UK Science Secretary commissions Action Plan to identify how
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive economic growth and deliver
better outcomes for people across the country
tech
entrepreneur, Matt Clifford, charged with leading work to explore
untapped AI opportunities
officials to form new “AI
Opportunities Unit” at heart of science and tech department to pool
expertise, seize the benefits of AI and implement proposals
New
UK Science Secretary, Peter Kyle, has put AI at the heart of the
government’s agenda to deliver change, sustained economic growth and
improved public services.
The Secretary of State has today
(26 July), appointed Tech entrepreneur and Chair of Advanced Research
And Invention Agency (ARIA), Matt Clifford, to kickstart this work. He
will deliver a new AI Opportunities Action Plan to identify ways to
accelerate the use of AI to improve people’s lives by making services
better and developing new products.
As well as exploring how
to build a UK AI sector that can scale and compete on the global
stage, the plan will also set out how to boost take up of the
technology across all parts of the economy, and consider the necessary
infrastructure, talent, and data access required to drive adoption by
the public and private sectors.
The Action Plan will play a
vital role in driving up productivity and kickstarting economic
growth. Estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that
while the exact economic impact hinges on the wider development and
adoption of AI, and realisation could be gradual, the UK could
ultimately see productivity gains of up to 1. 5 percent annually.
Matt Clifford will deliver a set of recommendations to the
Science Secretary in September. Alongside this, Department for
Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – acting as the digital
centre of government - will also establish an AI Opportunities Unit to
bring together the knowledge and expertise to take full advantage of
AI and implement recommendations from the Action Plan.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said:
We’re putting AI at
the heart of the government’s agenda to boost growth and improve our
public services.
Matt Clifford brings a wealth of experience
and shares my ambition when it comes to realising the opportunities of
AI, using it to drive growth and improve people’s
lives.
Together we will use AI to drive productivity and
economic growth in every part of the country so we can make everyone
better off.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
said:
Growing our economy and rebuilding Britain to make
everyone better off is our number one mission - and artificial
intelligence has the potential to raise productivity and help us do
that.
Our AI Opportunities Unit will unlock its full potential
to grow a more productive economy, create good jobs across the country
and deliver the excellent public services that people deserve whilst
saving taxpayers money”.
Matt Clifford said:
AI
presents us with so many opportunities to grow the economy and improve
people’s lives. The UK is leading the way in many areas, but we can do
even better.
I’m excited to start work and develop an ambitious
road map to identify the biggest opportunities and support the new
government as it makes important choices about where to focus its
efforts.
The action plan starts today and will engage key
figures across industry and civil society to help in its development.
The Action Plan will also consider key enablers such as the
UK’s compute and broader infrastructure requirements by 2030, how this
infrastructure is made available for start-ups and scale-ups and how
to develop and attract top AI talent in the public and private sector.
The announcement follows the Science Secretary making his
first visit since being appointed to the role, where he recently met
staff at the Government Digital Service (GDS) and Central Digital and
Data Office (CDDO), who have newly become part of the Department for
Science, Innovation and Technology. Notes to editors