In 2021, the UK government announced that it plans to invest £100 million in the development of a sovereign AI program. The aim of this program is to build AI technologies that are safe, secure, and ethical, and that can be used for various purposes, such as national security, healthcare, and transportation. The UK government has identified AI as a strategic technology that can bring significant benefits to the country’s economy and society. However, the government is also aware of the risks associated with AI, such as bias, privacy, and security concerns. Therefore, the sovereign AI program will focus on developing AI technologies that are transparent, explainable, and accountable.
The UK government has not provided many details about the program’s specifics, such as the timeline, the areas of research, or the institutions involved. However, the government has stated that it wants the UK to become a global leader in AI and to promote international collaboration on AI development. It’s worth noting that the UK is not the only country investing in AI research and development. Many countries, including the US, China, and Russia, have launched AI programs and are investing heavily in AI technologies. The competition for AI supremacy is likely to intensify in the coming years, and the UK’s sovereign AI program is one of its responses to this challenge.
The program is part of the UK’s wider strategy to establish itself as a global leader in technology and innovation. The government has set a target to increase public and private investment in research and development to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. The program will be led by the UK’s new National AI Research and Innovation Programme, which was launched in 2021. The program will bring together academia, industry, and government to drive the development of AI technologies and applications. One of the key goals of the program is to promote the development of AI technologies that are trustworthy and ethical. This includes ensuring that AI systems are transparent, explainable, and accountable, and that they do not perpetuate biases or discriminate against certain groups.
The program will focus on a range of application areas, including healthcare, transportation, national security, and finance. The government has stated that it wants the UK to be a world leader in the ethical and responsible use of AI in these areas.
The program will also aim to address the skills gap in the AI industry by funding PhDs and postdoctoral research positions in AI, as well as supporting the development of AI apprenticeships and training programs.
The £100 million investment will be spread over five years, and the government has indicated that it may provide additional funding in future years. The government has stated that it expects the program to generate significant economic benefits for the UK, including the creation of new jobs and the development of new AI products and services.