Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Starmer unveils plan to make country an AI 'superpower'

The government estimates that AI could boost annual productivity by 1.5 per cent over a decade, contributing an additional £47 billion annually to the economy.

Starner-AI-Getty

Starmer said AI would be central to his economic growth strategy. (Photo: Getty Images)

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has announced plans to position the country as an artificial intelligence (AI) "superpower," focusing on pro-innovation regulation, access to public data for researchers, and the establishment of data centre zones.

Speaking at University College London on Monday, Starmer said AI would be central to his economic growth strategy.


Despite fiscal challenges caused by rising borrowing costs, the Labour government aims to harness AI to drive productivity and wealth creation.

"Britain will be one of the great AI superpowers," Starmer said, highlighting the UK’s status as Europe’s leading AI investment hub. "We're going to make the breakthroughs, we're going to create the wealth, and we're going to make AI work for everyone in our country."

The government estimates that AI could boost annual productivity by 1.5 per cent over a decade, contributing an additional £47 billion annually to the economy.

Countries worldwide are racing to establish themselves as AI hubs, balancing the technology's growth potential with regulatory safeguards.

According to Stanford University, Britain ranks behind only the United States and China in measures such as AI investment and patents.

Starmer emphasised a "pro-growth and pro-innovation" regulatory approach, stating: "We will test and understand AI before we regulate it to make sure that when we do it, it's proportionate and grounded."

He announced the creation of a "National Data Library" to provide researchers access to public data under trusted copyright rules.

The government will also implement all 50 recommendations from the "AI Opportunities Action Plan" report by venture capitalist Matt Clifford.

This includes accelerating planning permissions and energy connections for data centres, with the first centre planned for Culham, Oxfordshire, home to Britain’s Atomic Energy Authority.

Starmer outlined AI’s potential to improve various sectors, including speeding up planning consultations, supporting small businesses, and reducing administrative tasks for healthcare and education professionals.

Britain’s economy has struggled to gain momentum following Labour's highest tax-raising budget since 1993, which dampened business confidence. The Bank of England recently reported no growth in the last quarter.

(With inputs from Reuters)

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Imran-Khan-Getty

Imran Khan, founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been in jail since August 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and democracy.

The nomination was announced by members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA), an advocacy group formed in December, who are also part of the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum.

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-immigration

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

UK returns 24,000 illegal migrants since July, highest in eight years

THE UK government has returned over 24,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the country since July, marking the highest rate of removals in eight years, prime minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less