By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-13 14:23:11 | Updated at 2025-01-13 20:16:28
5 hours ago
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday laid out his vision to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost Britain’s flagging economy, promising “pro-growth” regulations amid concerns about the technology’s unchecked use.
Speaking following the launch of a government “action plan”, Starmer pledged to ease red tape to attract billions of pounds of AI investment to Britain.
The “AI Opportunities Action Plan” includes 50 recommendations that the government will implement to boost AI-driven efficiency in the public sector, from education and healthcare to detecting potholes.
“Mark my words, Britain will be one of the great AI superpowers,” Starmer said at an event at the University College London campus in East London, hailing the technology which is raising complex questions for governments around the world.
The UK – which has the third-largest AI industry after the United States and China – will be “pro-growth and pro-innovation on regulation”, Starmer said.
“I think it is important to recognise that we’ve got freedom now in relation to regulation, to do it in the way that we think is best for the UK,” Starmer said, calling for AI to be “tested” before it is “regulated”.
