Google has warned that the UK risks being left behind in the global race to develop artificial intelligence without a comprehensive AI agenda.

The tech giant has released a new report, Unlocking the UK’s AI Potential, which looks at three key areas for action, including building more AI infrastructure, the creation of a new workforce strategy, and promoting universal access to AI, outlining how these will be critical to UK success.

Among its recommendations, Google is urging the government to invest in a National Research Cloud to support the National Data Library in democratising access to AI, expand AI infrastructure like data centres, and create a National Skills Service to boost AI and digital skills for UK employers and workers.

Alongside those major investments, the firm also wants the government to accelerate the use of AI in public institutions, and more effectively support uptake of the technology in the private sector through training resources, partnerships, and improved access to capital.

Without these, the paper cautions that, despite recent progress, the UK won’t be able to keep up with other countries, and risks falling behind at an exponential rate, citing research that shows the UK coming seventh in a global index of AI readiness.

As evidence, the research notes that in 2023 the US and China developed 50% and 40% of the world’s Large Language Models (LLMs), that Singapore is building a national AI talent pool, and that France has allocated €2.5 billion (£2.1 bn) from its 2030 budget to make AI a strategic priority.

By comparison, the UK said last month that it would suspend £1.3 billion in promised funding for new AI projects, including £800 million for building an exascale computer at the University of Edinburgh. 

In fairness, the new Labour government has already made moves in some of the areas highlighted in the report. This month, it was announced data centres would be classed as Critical National Infrastructure, with hopes that the new protections will boost business confidence in investing in data centres in the country.

Last week also saw the announcement of an £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services to help drive data centre growth in the UK and support thousands of jobs, with the chancellor securing a planned five-year investment from the company.

Recommended reading

• UK Biobank Gets Millions to Boost Health Data Storage Capabilities
• AWS Commits Over £180 Million to GenAI Startups
• New Survey Reveals UK T&L Has “Significant” Data and AI Gap

Google has already produced studies showing the boon that AI could have for the UK. In 2023, Google and Public First released their UK Economic Impact Report that found AI-powered innovation could create over £400 billion in economic value by 2030, the equivalent of 2.6% annualised GDP growth.

Earlier this year the firm backed up these assertions through its own investment, with construction beginning in January on a $1 billion (£751.8 million) Google data centre in Hertfordshire.

“We have a once in a generation opportunity to grow our economies, create new jobs and drive breakthroughs in health and science,” said Debbie Weinstein, vice president and managing director of Google UK & Ireland. 

“To do so, we need the right policy agenda and we believe that this paper provides a comprehensive pathway. We look forward to working with our partners in its delivery.”