UK AI Opportunities Action Plan: What Tech Execs are Saying

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Tech leaders tell Technology Magazine their thoughts on the UK’s AI Action Plan
We hear from global technology and data centre executives on how the AI Opportunities Action Plan could impact UK industry moving forward

AI demand is swelling, with the US and the People’s Republic of China continuing to dominate the industry and drive innovation. Yet, such a booming sector is inevitably prompting greater conversations around ethics and regulations for the technology. 

Within the data centre sector alone, debates continue over how AI is putting energy and power pressures on facilities. Operators are now having to find new and innovative ways to be sustainable and power data centres without compromising the grid.

Earlier in the week, the UK unveiled the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which will be a critical strategy for the country to position itself as a leading force in AI development and deployment. It will have a particular focus on infrastructure development and skills training.

“AI will drive incredible change in our country”, Sir Keir Starmer said during the announcement.

“From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people.”

He emphasises: "In a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race."

This has been significant news for the technology and data centre industries, with plenty of high-profile companies issuing a response. Data Centre Magazine spotlights some of these, who explore how the proposed plans will impact data centres in the UK.

David Hogan, VP Enterprise, EMEA at Nvidia

David Hogan, VP Enterprise, EMEA at Nvidia

"The UK's AI Opportunity Action Plan is a clear-sighted and ambitious policy initiative to establish the UK as a global AI leader.

“Delivering these commitments can boost economic prosperity, enhance public services and foster the growth of a thriving startup ecosystem.”

Mark Yeeles, VP, Secure Power division at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland 

Mark Yeeles, VP, Secure Power Division at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland

“I, for one, am delighted to see further recognition of data centres as critical national infrastructure.

"Indeed, the proposed development of AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) presents a logical and effective way to fast-track new AI infrastructure and to co-develop it with distributed energy resources - addressing the many power challenges that have historically hindered national developments. 

"What’s critical is that security, sustainability and efficiency remain at the forefront of these developments and that we continue to create strategies to decouple AI and data centre growth from power consumption, while reducing the technologies demand on the grid. 

"Additionally, to meet and exceed our ambitions around AI leadership, it’s essential we tackle the skills gaps across several key areas connected to AI, including data centres and digital infrastructure, renewable power, sustainability and engineering. 

"Further, addressing the diversity issue at root and branch is vital to the future of the UK’s technology industry and it’s excellent to see the acknowledgment of this within the plan.”  

Dame Dawn Childs, CEO, Pure DC

Dame Dawn Childs, CEO at Pure DC

“Pure DC welcomes the UK Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, which underscores the nation's commitment to advancing artificial intelligence. The establishment of AI Growth Zones, such as the one in Culham, Oxfordshire, is a significant step toward accelerating the development of essential infrastructure. 

“As a leading data centre provider, Pure DC recognises the importance of translating ambitious plans into tangible outcomes. The successful application and delivery of infrastructure depend on close collaboration between government, industry, and local communities. By aligning these efforts, we can create data centres that not only meet the evolving growth in capacity sought by technology firms but also respect and actively benefit the communities they serve.

“We are particularly encouraged by the plan's focus on creating jobs and fostering innovation in de-industrialised areas. This aligns with our commitment to engaging with local stakeholders to drive economic development and ensure our projects deliver long-term value for communities.

“By working together, we can ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of AI and technology, creating a thriving environment for innovation and investment.”

Martin Riley, CTO at Bridewell (Microsoft’s leading cybersecurity partner in the UK for CNI)

Martin Riley, CTO at Bridewell

“As organisations, particularly CNI look to leverage AI, key considerations need to be made for how it is deployed, both in terms of the architecture and security controls, as well as what the AI systems have access to and responsibility for.

"I highly doubt organisations are going to be establishing links between operational control systems and AI, but it is probably more for predictive modelling, digital twins, recommendations and using GenAI for fault finding.

"The UK is already behind other regions such as the Middle East and Asia in terms of access to talent and the widespread learning and development of AI specific skills, so a considerable amount of focus needs to be applied to this.”

Spencer Lamb, COO at Kao Data

Spencer Lamb, COO at Kao Data

"Securing domestic computing capacity is essential to ensure the UK meets its ambitions to become an 'AI maker rather than an AI taker', and to attract continued investment from the world's leading startups and scaleups to our shores.

“Kao Data is encouraged by the report's proposal to establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) to accelerate the development of AI data centres—an initiative we have long championed via our £350m data centre investment in Greater Manchester, and our Harlow campus.

“Data centres are undoubtedly essential to harness the full potential of AI, and we also welcome the government’s continued recognition of their critical role.

“As part of the proposed AIGZs, it's now fundamental we use sustainable infrastructure to catalyse the green transition, and develop both sovereign AI compute and renewable energy together, at-scale”.

Damian Stirrett, GVP & GM UK & Ireland at ServiceNow

Damian Stirrett, GVP & GM UK & Ireland at ServiceNow

“AI is, and will increasingly be, one of the biggest technological drivers behind economic growth in the UK.

"Research from ServiceNow, has found that while in the UK, AI-powered business transformation is in its early days, British businesses are among Europe’s leaders when it comes to AI optimism and maturity, with 85% of those planning to increase investment in AI in the next year.

"Implemented correctly, the benefits of AI in the public sector are endless, with AI-solutions helping enhance productivity, reduce resolution time and help streamline costs.

"This is why the specific recommendations in the government’s proposal are an important step towards the UK becoming a true AI leader.” 

Carl Ennis, CEO at Siemens UK & Ireland

Carl Ennis, CEO at Siemens UK & Ireland

"AI has become the technology that will define this decade. Today’s plan indicates, encouragingly, that the Government is taking it seriously.

"In order to ensure that the consumer and industrial uses of AI have opportunities to appropriately support society, policy frameworks must address the specific environments where the technology is being used.

"The challenge is that, at the same time, we must safeguard properly and ensure we don't hinder innovation.
Getting AI policy wrong could have significant implications, including further loss of productivity and slowed economic growth.

"But, getting it right will provide solutions to the UK’s productivity challenge while accelerating investment in automation and robotics. It is crucial that we quickly take the opportunity to harness AI's potential while mitigating risks."

Steve Young, SVP and MD at Dell Technologies, UK

Steve Young, SVP and MD at Dell Technologies, UK

“Dell Technologies has a rich history of working with the UK’s top research institutions and other public-sector bodies to tackle complex challenges.

"This history underpins our belief that public-private partnerships are essential for accelerating innovation.

"We look forward to contributing to the UK’s effort to enhance healthcare, develop more sustainable energy, and transform education through AI. By doing so, we hope to drive human progress for individuals, enterprises and the UK's economy.”

Sachin Agrawal, UK MD at Zoho

Sachin Agrawal, UK MD at Zoho

“As part of this innovation push, it is important for the UK to understand how AI regulation and data privacy continue to challenge businesses developing and implementing AI systems.

"In 2024, multi-agent AI emerged as a significant trend by enabling the collaboration between specialised agents to handle complex workflows in enterprise businesses where structured information and datasets are critical for context.

"No comprehensive frameworks have been enacted yet in the UK, although renewed commitments such as this and continued efforts indicate the growing recognition of responsible AI governance.”


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