Businesses hopeful over Government’s AI action plan

Business leaders are hopeful that the government’s AI action plan will unlock growth, raise productivity and drive overseas growth.

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday promised to make the UK an “AI superpower” when he unveiled the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Speaking at University College London’s (UCL) East London campus, the Prime Minister said expanding the use of technology would help boost growth.

While admitting there would be “teething problems” involved in the process, the PM insisted changes would help revolutionise creaking public services and turn around Britain’s economy.

Among the proposals are greater use of AI in the public sector to enable workers to spend less time doing administrative tasks and more time delivering services.

AI will also be used by teachers to plan lessons, cameras to spot potholes on roads and hospitals to help fewer appointments go to waste.

A series of AI “growth zones” around Britain were also announced, to help speed up planning approvals for data centres and improve access to the energy grid.

Raj Kandola, director of external affairs at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The launch of the Government's new AI Opportunities Action Plan contains a number of measures which are likely to be welcomed by businesses up and down the country.

“The road map offers a sensible set of suggestions that if implemented in full, will help to unlock growth, raise productivity and drive overseas investment.

“A number of the measures announced also reflect a number of recommendations put forward by the Business Commission West Midlands namely around boosting the AI skills base across the workforce and improving the UK's sovereign AI capability.

“We look forward to reviewing the full details of the plan and understanding how these initiatives will compliment the Plan for Growth which has been developed by the WMCA in order to drive prosperity locally.”