- More than £200 million in government support to help companies in Britain adopt AI – paving the way for the UK to become fastest AI adopting country in the G7
- Businesses such as Cisco and IBM aim to facilitate AI training, support job creation and provide resources to assist SMEs to explore the technology as part of a nationwide push to boost uptake
- Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Johnson to lead institute tracking how AI is changing jobs and growth, with businesses sharing data and insights to help shape future policy
LONDON, England – Thousands of workers and businesses across the UK are set to benefit from a major new push to put AI to work – backing companies to adopt the technology while equipping people with the skills to use it, the department for science, innovation and technology.
“At the first-ever AI Adoption Summit 8 June, government is bringing together major tech companies, trade unions and industry leaders to drive the adoption of AI in ways that boost growth while creating new opportunities for workers and supporting them with new skills. Alongside this, more than £200 million of government investment – backed by partnerships with industry and trade unions – will help turn that approach into action, supporting skills, opening up routes into AI careers for young people, and helping businesses put AI into practice.”
“Many businesses and individuals want to use AI but don’t yet have the tools, support or confidence to do so – holding back productivity and growth. Today the government is unveiling a first-of-its-kind partnership on AI adoption – working with businesses, trade unions and workers to spread adoption across our economy, give workers the skills they need to thrive in the AI-era, while ensuring workers can have a say over how AI is implemented in their workforce,” the government department said in a press release.
To help turn that ambition into action, a new package of support – backed up £200 million – will make it easier for businesses to test, adopt and scale AI.
Measures announced today include:
- Expanding our ‘Bridge AI’ scheme with £100m to match British companies with British AI, along with support on skills, AI assurance and practical help so business know how to use AI to secure the strongest growth potential, boosting AI adoption in their businesses.
- A further £53 million will be ringfenced for new initiatives to boost AI adoption and innovation, including the expansion of our Tech Town programme, which Barnsley has pioneered.
- This will also include a £4 million expansion to the Spärck AI Scholarships programme, to double down on our incredible talent pipeline. The expansion will sponsor up to 50 industry placements for top university scholars to get vital, hands-on experience in key UK companies. Those already signed up to provide placements include the likes of BT and Universal Music Group.
- Investing £5m in each of our AI Growth Zones to support local businesses to adopt AI and upskill the local workforce
- Industry-led AI Adoption Plans written by expert AI Champions to help sectors like advanced manufacturing and financial services put AI into practice – testing what works and sharing lessons so others can follow.
- New AI Advisory Growth Labs will be set up for businesses, regulators and experts to work together to trial AI in working environments – starting with legal services – and giving firms clear, practical information on how to responsibly adopt AI while meeting regulations.
- Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Johnson will chair the AI Economics Institute, tracking how AI is changing jobs and growth.
- The government has signed a joint statement with Google, Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI committing to close collaboration with the UK government and frontier AI labs in support of evidence-based policymaking and responsible AI development.
- More than 30 major companies, like BT, Rolls Royce, Accenture and EDF, have signed up to share data and insights on how they’re using AI in the workplace – such as how they are supporting staff and adapting the way they work. This will help shape future policy and share expertise with small businesses looking to adopt the technology.
- A new prize to recognise and promote UK organisations that help workers adapt to AI or create new job opportunities by responsibly using AI – which will also be led by Simon Johnson.
This comes as government and industry’s AI Skills Boost programme hits over 1.7 million AI skills courses completed and nine companies, including Cisco, IBM and Deloitte plan to support the expansion of training to employers, contributing to job creation and helping smaller businesses adopt the technology. Trade organisations are also launching their own efforts to share what works on AI adoption, and highlight what needs fixing.
“Together, these commitments form a coordinated national push to accelerate uptake across the key sectors of the economy earmarked for growth under the Industrial Strategy – giving businesses the tools and confidence to adopt AI, and ensuring people have the skills to benefit.”
“With the public and private sector working in lockstep it will help ensure people and companies have what they need to benefit from AI. By combining investment in skills and practical support for AI adoption, the UK is creating the conditions to drive growth, better jobs and opportunity across the country.”