Ensuring that the UK has the right mix of access to sovereign AI compute; domestic compute; and international compute. To achieve this the Plan recommends the development of a long term plan for AI infrastructure needs backed by a 10-year investment commitment; a rapid expansion of the UK’s AI research resource; a more strategic approach to allocating sovereign compute capability; establishing AI Growth Zones that will make it easier to build AI data centres; and a new set of international compute partnerships. 

Unlocking access to new valuable data sets to support the development of the new generation of models, including through the creation of the National Data Library. To achieve this the Plan recommends rapidly identifying five high impact public datasets to make available to AI researchers and innovators; taking a more strategic approach to data gathering; better public sector practices for opening up Government datasets; more active incentives for researchers to curate and unlock private datasets.

The Plan sets an ambition for the UK to train tens of thousands of additional AI professionals across the technology stack to meet expected demand, as well as proactively increasing the UK’s share of the world’s top 1,000 AI researchers. To achieve this the Plan recommends developing a more accurate picture of the current skills gap; direct support for Higher Education Institutions to increase the number of AI-related graduates; steps to promote the diversity of AI talent; launching a scheme to attract international students to the UK similar to the Rhodes Scholarship; exploring how the existing immigration system can be better used to attract top international AI talent. 

The Plan notes the importance of well-designed and stable regulation to promoting investment and adoption. The Plan recommends achieving this through continuing to support and grow the AI Safety Institute; ensuring a competitive approach to text and data mining; taking steps to ensure that all sectoral regulators are fit for the age of AI; and supporting the development of a UK AI assurance ecosystem, including through investment in new AI assurance tools. 

Adopting high-performing, trustworthy AI will be key in both the public and private sector. The Plan notes that AI should become central to thinking about how services are delivered, improving the standard of living, and improving productivity.

To further drive AI adoption, it will be key for the private and public sector to play mutually reinforcing roles in adopting AI. As the Government plans to take a ‘Scan > Pilot > Scale’ approach in the public sector, the Digital Centre of Government will be tasked with finding a number of quick wins to support the approach which enables both the public and private sector to strengthen at the same time.

The Plan notes that developing a new Industrial Strategy - which includes particular use cases for key industries - provides the perfect opportunity to promote AI adoption across the economy. In addition, the Plan suggests appointing AI Sector Champions within these key industries to help develop AI adoption plans with the Government.   

The Plan notes that the Government must ensure the UK has national champions – helping to ensure that research and development of frontier AI capabilities happens in the UK. With this in mind, the Plan recommends that a new UK Sovereign AI unit is established focused on building UK strengths in a small number of priority areas. The unit will lead the delivery of a Government offer to new and existing frontier AI companies that includes direct investment; delivering appropriate sites for compute; providing access to the most valuable UK-owned data sets and research; and supporting companies to access international talent.