Bank of England Governor: AI won’t lead to mass job losses

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, has rebutted fears that AI will lead to widespread unemployment.

"I'm an economic historian, before I became a central banker. Economies adapt, jobs adapt, and we learn to work with it. And I think, you get a better result by people with machines than with machines on their own," Bailey told the BBC.

Bailey's comments come as the latest economic assessment shows that UK businesses investing in AI are expected to see gains...

2 February 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

UK and Canada sign AI compute agreement

The UK and Canada have signed a landmark agreement to collaborate on the computing power needed to advance AI research and development. 

The new Memorandum of Understanding on compute was signed in Ottawa by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Canadian Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry François-Phillippe Champagne. It cements the two countries' partnership on AI by committing them to explore ways to give researchers and companies affordable access to the...

31 January 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

Google announces UK data centre to meet ‘growing demand’ for AI

Google has announced plans to invest $1 billion in a new data centre in the UK which it says will help to meet “growing demand” for its AI and cloud services.

The 33-acre site in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire will bring much-needed compute capacity to businesses, supporting AI innovation and ensuring reliable digital services for Google Cloud customers and general consumers relying on products like Search, Maps, and YouTube.

Ruth Porat, Alphabet's president and chief...

19 January 2024 | Artificial Intelligence

Dell, Intel and University of Cambridge deploy the UK’s fastest AI supercomputer

Dell, Intel, and the University of Cambridge have jointly announced the deployment of the Dawn Phase 1 supercomputer.

This cutting-edge AI supercomputer stands as the fastest of its kind in the UK today. It marks a groundbreaking fusion of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies, showcasing the potential to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Dawn Phase 1 is the cornerstone of the recently launched UK AI Research Resource (AIRR),...

2 November 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK paper highlights AI risks ahead of global Safety Summit

The UK Government has unveiled a comprehensive paper addressing the capabilities and risks associated with frontier AI.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has spoken today on the global responsibility to confront the risks highlighted in the report and harness AI’s potential. Sunak emphasised the need for honest dialogue about the dual nature of AI: offering unprecedented opportunities, while also posing significant dangers.

“AI will bring new knowledge, new opportunities...

26 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK reveals AI Safety Summit opening day agenda

The UK Government has unveiled plans for the inaugural global AI Safety Summit, scheduled to take place at the historic Bletchley Park.

The summit will bring together digital ministers, AI companies, civil society representatives, and independent experts for crucial discussions. The primary focus is on frontier AI, the most advanced generation of AI models, which – if not developed responsibly – could pose significant risks.

The event aims to explore both the...

16 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

UK races to agree statement on AI risks with global leaders

Downing Street officials find themselves in a race against time to finalise an agreed communique from global leaders concerning the escalating concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. 

This hurried effort comes in anticipation of the UK’s AI Safety Summit scheduled next month at the historic Bletchley Park.

The summit, designed to provide an update on White House-brokered safety guidelines – as well as facilitate a debate on how national security agencies can...

10 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

CMA sets out principles for responsible AI development 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set out its principles to ensure the responsible development and use of foundation models (FMs).

FMs are versatile AI systems with the potential to revolutionise various sectors, from information access to healthcare. The CMA's report, published today, outlines a set of guiding principles aimed at safeguarding consumer protection and fostering healthy competition within this burgeoning industry.

Foundation models – known...

19 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Is Europe killing itself financially with the AI Act?

Europe is tinkering with legislation to regulate artificial intelligence. European regulators are delighted with this, but what does the world say about the AI Act?

Now the outlines for the AI Act are known, a debate is beginning to erupt around its possible implications. One camp believes regulations are needed to curb the risks of powerful AI technology, while the other is convinced that regulation will prove pernicious for the European economy. Is it out of the...

18 September 2023 | Legislation & Government

UK to pitch AI’s potential for international development at UN

The UK is pitching its vision for leveraging AI’s potential to accelerate development in the world's most impoverished nations during the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The vision was set out by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and calls upon international partners to collaborate and coordinate their efforts in harnessing AI for development in Africa and making progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of its efforts, the UK is launching the 'AI...

18 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence