The UK Secretary of State Michelle Donelan spoke about the UK’s leadership around AI at technology conference CogX in London's O2 Arena.
Michelle Donelan listed key features and initiatives of the UK government before the audience. She said the UK's tech sector has achieved remarkable milestones, with a value of over one trillion dollars, joining the ranks of the USA and China.
Michelle The digital sector alone in the UK is now worth more in nominal terms than the entire GDP of the country in 1970. The success of the UK's tech sector is attributed to universities, startups, investors, tech campuses, and a thriving spirit of innovation.
London has become the global leader in tech investment, surpassing New York and attracting major tech companies like Apple and Google.
“The tech boom extends beyond London, with British businesses across the nation contributing to the growth of the sector. The UK has produced more billion-dollar tech companies than France, Germany, and Sweden combined.
“The next major technological advance is predicted to be in AI, which has the potential to transform various aspects of our lives.
“The UK government is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and reliability of AI technology, aiming to become a global leader in AI safety,” she added.
Frontier AI Taskforce
The Frontier AI Taskforce is working to make the UK the strongest and most agile country in the world concerning AI safety.
International collaboration is crucial in addressing the challenges and reaping the benefits of AI, with the UK hosting the world's inaugural AI Safety Summit to drive global action in AI safety.