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Can the UK compete with tech superpowers to lead in AI?

UK AI sector
Image credit: I T S via Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded into the mainstream thanks to tools like ChatGPT. The economic and geopolitical stakes are high as countries compete in a fresh race to advance their AI industries. Can the UK be a world leader in AI, as the government intends?

While the UK has a history of trailblazing tech innovation, AI is a crowded market. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak isn’t alone as a political leader with the ambition to create a world-leading AI sector.

The government has demonstrated its support for British AI for several years now – see the National AI strategy of 2021. However, the viral success of Microsoft-backed OpenAI and others has created a fresh sense of urgency.

Rather than being contained to a single strategy, AI policies have made appearances across various government communications in recent months....