Ahead of the Autumn Budget to be announced next week, the UK government has issued a new package of reforms and investment into AI as part of its growth plans for ‘national renewal’.

The plans aim to bolster investment into AI infrastructure, providing businesses with the opportunity to scale and compete internationally as part of Labour’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

International companies are also hosting new centres in the UK and British companies are increasing investment – with £24.25 billion in private investment committed in this last month alone.

Companies like Vantage Data Centers and Microsoft are also joining forces with the government to deliver another AI Growth Zone. Set in South Wales, £10 billion of investment will unlock at least 5,000 jobs, including in industrial heartlands like the former Ford Bridgend Engine Plant.

AI Growth Zones will help transform local economies and ensure no community is left behind, with £5 million of government funding for each Growth Zone to boost business adoption and invest in the skills of local workers.

To ensure British businesses and researchers stay at the forefront of AI, new plans will back  firms and scientists with the right tools to succeed and to seize the opportunity for British workers and growth.

The government aims to act as a first customer to UK startups which are building high-quality AI hardware products but are struggling to get off the ground without investment through a new “advance market commitment” backed by £100 million.

The goal is to see British chips deployed alongside established vendors, the government says.

Alongside this, venture capitalist James Wise will chair the Sovereign AI Unit, backed by almost £500 million in investment to help build and scale AI capabilities on British shores. The unit will bring together government, industry and investors, to become the go-to fund for high potential start-ups and scale-ups in the UK.

The UK government is also established an array of AI ambassadors to promote AI, and will offer more free compute to British researchers and startups to train new AI models. The process to spend up to £250 million on compute is now being launched.

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Further, a new strategy is being unveiled to make sure AI supercharges scientific discovery, backed by up to £137 million in government funding. Its first mission will be focused on harnessing AI to speed up the research of new drugs and treatments – giving patients a new lease of life and fresh hope that their conditions can be better managed.

“We are ambitious for our country and believe Britain’s best days lie ahead. Today we’re announcing a package of measures that ensure we seize the opportunities to get jobs and growth in every part of the country,” secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology Liz Kendall said.

“The backing by international investors today is a vote of confidence in the UK – and we’re determined to do even more to ensure we are backing British businesses, workers and researchers to benefit from the opportunities AI brings. This is about bringing jobs, opportunities and hope to the people and places that need it most, delivering on our promise of change.”