Lots of noise has been made about Keir Starmer’s new AI Opportunities Action Plan – but will it prove to be a ‘levelling up’ exercise for the North, or another love-in for Southern cities and universities?
With the first announced ‘AI Growth Zone’ in Oxfordshire, and Isambard-AI at Bristol as one of the most recently announced supercomputers, there’s no indication yet that the North will share in the spoils.
Allan Kaye, Co-Founder of Vesper Technologies (Vespertec), said, “It’s exciting to hear the government unveiling plans for new AI Growth Zones, I’d hope to see these opportunities spread across the country. From the Kao data centre in Manchester, to Durham’s supercomputer ambitions, the North is ready to grasp the opportunity! It has the skills base, the expertise, and the drive to carry the torch for Britain’s AI ambitions.
“Large firms will play a key role in this Action Plan, but so will SMEs, scale-ups, and academic spinouts that are innovating at the cutting edge. We would love to see AI Growth Zones that enable that collaboration and allow organisations of all sizes to participate in and support this programme.”
Matthew Lesh, Public Policy Fellow at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“AI is already having a transformative positive impact across society, from supporting creative production through to helping discover new drugs. The government’s AI blueprint sets a welcome positive tone for a technology poised to drive innovation and economic growth, with steps like streamlined planning and a supportive environment crucial to its success.
“The Government, however, will ultimately need to go further in reducing regulatory barriers. The recent case of OpenAI withholding its Sora video-generation tool from the UK, citing data privacy and online safety laws, highlights the risks of an overbearing regulatory environment. To fully capitalise on AI’s potential, the government must address these anti-growth regulations and fast-track broader changes to planning for key infrastructure like data centres and energy production.”
Dr Marc Warner, CEO of Faculty said, “The path to reviving our anemic economy will be paved by technology – and AI is the most important of our time.
“This plan contains sensible steps to safely adopt AI at scale – and the Prime Minister is right to use the technology to arrest the decline in public services.
“But we’ve heard similar rhetoric before. Bold policy must now follow today’s encouraging soundbites if the UK is truly to have AI ‘mainlined into its veins’.”
Peter Turner, Chief Operating Officer at TeamViewer said, “The government’s forward-looking approach to AI investment, reflects the growing role AI plays in transforming productivity and skills development across the UK.
“In fact, new research from TeamViewer has found that three-quarters of UK decision-makers anticipate AI will drive one of the greatest productivity booms in a century. This isn’t surprising, as AI is already saving IT professionals an average of 16 hours each month, allowing teams to focus on high-level tasks that drive innovation.
“The proposed tax incentives and expanded digital infrastructure will not only accelerate these gains but ensure that AI’s productivity potential reaches every sector.
Support for secure AI adoption is essential for fostering responsible growth, empowering organisations to innovate confidently while managing risk. With investment in both digital infrastructure and security, the UK is well-positioned to lead in AI-driven productivity, enabling sustainable growth and economic resilience.”
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