A landmark £1.1 billion plan to boost Britain’s ability to develop, deploy and scale AI technologies and chips has been unveiled by the government – pouring investment to back the next generation of British chip companies to support growth and jobs, strengthen national security, and boost the UK’s competitiveness.
AI is already changing how economies work, public services operate and countries protect their interests. As more of the economy and public services comes to rely on AI, it matters more than ever that Britain has the ability to develop key technologies securely at home. Ready access to compute is critical to these ambitions: giving AI innovators the digital horsepower they need, to get to work in Britain.
The new AI Hardware Plan, announced by the Technology Secretary Liz Kendall at London Tech Week, sets out how the government will back British companies developing the chips and semiconductor technologies behind AI, while also investing in the scientists, engineers and technicians needed to turn new ideas into products and good jobs in the UK.
It comes just over a month after she announced in her speech at RUSI that the government would bring forward plans to boost Britain’s sovereign AI capabilities.
The global AI chips market is expected to reach one trillion dollars in the early 2030s. If Britain could secure just 5% of this market it would bring fifty billion dollars in revenue to the UK with tens of thousands of highly paid jobs in tech.
Read more here