The UK Government is investing £100 million in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to improve healthcare and education. The recent formation of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will support the taskforce in developing foundation models for AI that are safe, reliable and widely adopted. The EU, on the other hand, is reportedly losing the technology race against China and the US. Eurointelligence has reported that the EU is falling behind in a range of 21st-century technologies such as e-cars and AI models. It stated that the only European country in the AI sector is the UK, which is no longer part of the bloc.
The Decline of Europe’s Digital Industry
Eurointelligence has warned that Europe is losing the technology battle against China and the US. The EU is falling behind in technologies such as AI models, e-cars, and many other 21st-century technologies. The report stated that the European car industry is dying, and Europe no longer has a representative among the world’s top ten digital companies. The only European country with a foot in the AI sector is Brexit-Britain.
The UK’s Investment in AI Technology
The UK Government has pledged to invest £100 million in AI technology, with a new taskforce set up to develop foundation models that are safe, reliable and widely adopted in fields such as healthcare and education. The government sees AI as the best bet for regulatory divergence from the EU, which is hampered by data-protection laws with a one-sided focus on consumers. The first pilots of the developed models targeting public services are expected to launch in the next six months.
The Prime Minister’s Take
Speaking at a Business Connect conference in London, attended by high-profile chief executives, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the potential of AI provides enormous opportunities to grow the economy, create better-paid jobs and build a better future through advances in healthcare and security. By investing in emerging technologies through the new expert taskforce, the UK can continue to lead the way in developing safe and trustworthy AI, shaping a more innovative UK economy.
As the EU struggles to keep up with China and the US, the UK is investing heavily in AI technology, recognizing the potential of the technology to transform various sectors such as healthcare, education, and security. With the UK no longer part of the EU, the government sees AI as an opportunity to diverge from EU regulations that are hampering technological progress. The new taskforce is set to develop foundation models that are safe, reliable and widely adopted in public services, contributing to a more innovative UK economy.
