The UK government has unveiled its long-awaited national strategy for artificial intelligence, opting to prioritise economic opportunities and the unlocking of valuable data over the introduction of new, standalone legislation. The plan, launched this week, firmly rejects following the European Union's path of creating a specific AI Act.
Economic Focus and Data Access at the Core
The central thrust of the new roadmap is to harness AI's potential to boost the economy, create jobs, and improve public services. The government emphasised its intention to "unlock" vast datasets held by both private companies and the public sector. These datasets are seen as crucial fuel for training the next generation of AI models, with the aim of fostering a globally competitive UK AI sector.
"AI models are only as good as the data they are trained on," the plan states, highlighting the UK's high-quality data as a key asset. The strategy suggests opening up non-sensitive public data, such as that from the Office for National Statistics, to support innovation. While earlier calls for a copyright exemption to train AI on protected material were rejected, the government is exploring new licensing schemes or compensation models to facilitate data access.
Managing Risks and Supporting Workers
While championing AI's benefits for health, social care, education, and employment, the plan does not shy away from significant risks. It warns of the substantial water and power resources consumed by datacentres, noting they used about 2% of grid-supplied power in 2024—a figure that could triple by 2030. It also raises concerns about AI-facilitated abuse, particularly targeting women, and unresolved copyright questions for creators.
In response to union fears about job displacement, the government committed to supporting and reskilling workers. The Industry Minister stated that technology "should enable workers' talents, not replace them," promising consultation with both unions and businesses on workplace implementation. A key measure of success, according to the plan, will be how widely AI's benefits are shared and how inequalities are reduced.
Safety Institute and Legislative Stance
A cornerstone of the practical response is a £30 million commitment to establish an AI Safety Institute next year. This body will advise the government on the evolving technology and assess whether new laws might be necessary in the future. For now, however, the government believes existing legal frameworks are sufficient to manage AI's rapid growth.
The decision against immediate legislation marks a clear departure from the EU's regulatory approach. The government's plan concludes that it will monitor AI's development and "respond to challenges as they arise," maintaining a flexible stance focused on capturing economic advantages while managing emerging risks through established channels.
