The UK government has launched the AI Opportunity Forum to increase the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the private sector. The forum, overseen by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Business Adviser Franck Petitgas, will include representatives from Major tech companies, including Google Spin-Out SandboxAQ, which is focused on AI and Quantum.
The forum aims to improve AI readiness in organizations, focusing on AI culture, skills, governance, risk management, and data availability. Despite the recognized importance of AI, only one in ten organizations are fully prepared to implement the technology.
UK’s AI Opportunity Forum: Aiming to Boost AI Adoption in the Private Sector
The UK government has announced the formation of the AI Opportunity Forum, a new initiative to increase the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the private sector. The forum, which includes members from leading tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Barclays, and Vodafone, will focus on enhancing UK organizations’ AI culture and skills. It will also address governance, awareness, and risks associated with AI technology and data availability crucial for AI development and use.
Despite the widespread recognition of AI’s importance for businesses, only one in ten organizations is fully prepared to implement the technology. The forum aims to address this issue by sharing best practices and identifying measures to improve AI readiness. This initiative builds on the Prime Minister’s AI Safety Summit, which outlined a global approach to ensuring safe and responsible AI use.
The Economic Impact of AI in the UK
The AI sector in the UK already contributes £3.7 billion to the economy and employs 50,000 people, with these figures expected to grow. Google’s UK Economic Impact Report suggests that AI-powered innovation could create over £400 billion in economic value for the UK economy by 2030. The AI Opportunity Forum is seen as a critical initiative for unlocking the transformative potential of AI, which could boost productivity, fuel creativity, and drive tech-led growth across various sectors.
The AI Opportunity Forum will be co-chaired by Secretary of State Michelle Donelan and the Prime Minister’s Business Adviser Franck Petitgas. The forum’s first meeting is scheduled for February, with subsequent meetings to take place bi-monthly.
The forum’s members will bring their expertise to bear on encouraging AI adoption across the private sector to boost productivity, fuel innovation, and deliver growth in all areas of the economy. The forum will also focus on the AI culture and skills of organizations in the UK, how they manage governance, awareness, and risks of the technology and the availability of data they can tap into.
AI Adoption and the Public Sector
In addition to the private sector, the UK government is accelerating plans to roll out AI across the public sector. Earlier this month, the Central Digital and Data Office published a new framework to implement principles for government departments on the responsible use of Generative AI. The framework, written in collaboration with industry, also aims to upskill civil servants through free generative AI courses to ensure public servants have a robust set of skills when working with AI.
Voices from the AI Opportunity Forum
Several members of the AI Opportunity Forum have expressed their views on the initiative. Clare Barclay, CEO of Microsoft UK, emphasized the importance of AI adoption speed and industry skilling programs for the UK to successfully embrace the generational shift in how we live and work. Debbie Weinstein, Managing Director of Google UK, highlighted the scale of the opportunity, with forecasts showing that AI-powered innovation could create over £400 billion in economic value for the UK economy by 2030. Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, expressed optimism about the positive impact of AI on the UK’s short and long-term economic growth, innovation, and skills development.
The complete list of organizations joining the forum is:
- Clare Barclay, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft UK
- Debbie Weinstein, Managing Director of Google UK and Ireland
- Vishal Marria, CEO of Quantexa
- Rene Haas, Chief Executive Officer of Arm
- Bina Mehta, Chair of KPMG UK
- Jennie Daly, Chief Executive of Taylor Wimpey
- Ken Murphy, Group Chief Executive Officer of Tesco
- C. S. Venkatakrishnan, Group Chief Executive of Barclays
- Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy
- Margherita Della Valle, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone
- Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK
- Lucian Grainge CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group
- Steve Hare, Chief Executive Officer of Sage
- Jack Hidary, Chief Executive Officer of SandboxAQ
- Edward Braham, Chair of M&G
- Simon Patterson, Managing Director of Silver Lake
- Laura Cameron, Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons