British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to unveil an "action plan" to make the UK a "world leader" in artificial intelligence and boost Britain's declining economy.
His Labour administration has said artificial intelligence will be "rolled out" across the country, with the "full weight" of the half-million-strong civil service behind the venture.
"Artificial intelligence is going to make an incredible difference in our country," Starmer promised. "From personalising lessons from teachers, to helping small businesses with record keeping, to speeding up planning applications - it has the potential to change the lives of working people."
Later, Starmer is due to present details of the UK's approach to AI technology, which raises complex issues for governments around the world.
In Sunday's message preceding the address, the prime minister said the AI industry "needs a government that is on their side, that will not sit with its arms folded and let opportunities slip through its fingers".
"In a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand idly by. We must act quickly and take action to win the global race. Our plan will make Britain a world leader," he insists.
The government's 50 proposals include the creation of so-called "dedicated AI growth zones" designed to accelerate planning proposals for data centres and other infrastructure.
The cabinet also plans to increase server capacity twenty-fold by 2030, including by building "a brand new supercomputer with enough power for AI to play chess half a million times a second on its own."
The government also promises the public sector will spend less time on "administrative work".
It noted that hospitals are already using AI to diagnose breast cancer faster, and said AI has the potential to find potholes in roadways and help improve infrastructure.
The Starmer administration clarified that AI could cost the UK £47 billion ($57 billion) each year for a decade.
Three tech companies - Vantage Data Centres, Nscale and Kyndryl - have committed to spending £14bn on AI in the UK, which will create more than 13,000 jobs.
Since he took office last July, Starmer has put boosting the UK economy at the heart of his agenda. Weaker-than-expected growth, rising borrowing costs and a falling pound have complicated his task, meaning he may be forced to cut spending or increase taxes this year.
AI is also increasingly blamed for the spread of misinformation and fake pornography on the internet. | BGNES, AFP
