UK Government announces AI Opportunities Action Plan

On Monday, 13 January 2025, Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer announced the publication of the UK government's long-awaited Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunities Action Plan. 

The full details of the action plan are intended to unleash AI across the public and private sectors in order to cut costs and turbocharge UK economic growth. Written by prominent tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, the plan sets out 50 recommendations, such as creating strategically positioned AI Growth Zones, all of which have been approved by Starmer to "make the UK the number one place for AI firms to invest," and "position the UK to be an AI maker, not an AI taker."

The plan focuses on three main goals:  

• Investing in the foundations of AI to create an advanced computing and data infrastructure, access to talent and regulation.
• Driving AI adoption across the economy to ensure that both the public and private sectors rapidly pilot and scale AI products and services in order to drive better experiences and outcomes for citizens and boost productivity.
• Ensure the UK is a leader in AI innovation by making it an attractive destination for building and developing frontier AI systems. 

Each of the 50 recommendations relates to one of these aims and a core set of core principles:

• Supporting innovators, urging the government to evaluate whether its policies benefit those pursuing ambitious projects in the UK. 
• The need for the government to leverage its purchasing power to improve public services, foster new AI markets, and strengthen the domestic ecosystem. 
• To attract top global talent and investment by creating an environment conducive to starting and scaling companies in the UK.
• Building on the existing strengths of the UK AI companies that can drive economic transformation and innovation if properly supported. 

Writing for the Financial Times (£), Starmer said: "The global race for AI leadership is fast and getting faster. Some countries are going to make AI breakthroughs and export them to the world. Others will be left to buy those breakthroughs and import them. I don't believe government should be passive or neutral on this — this is the bread and butter of industrial policy."

In a statement responding to the announcement, Stephen Almond, Executive Director for Regulatory Risk at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), said: "AI has huge potential to transform businesses and public services, which is why it is a priority area for the ICO. Data protection is essential to realising this opportunity and ensuring that the public can have trust in AI. As a whole economy regulator, we are committed to supporting organisations to innovate and grow responsibly while upholding people's rights and freedoms."