UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a plan to develop artificial intelligence (AI) in the country, for which the government plans to allocate £100m ($125m).
With £100 million for our AI Taskforce, we are dedicating more funding to AI safety than any other country in the world.
We’ll also work with @DeepMind, @OpenAI and @Anthropic who will give us early or priority access to models for research and safety purposes. pic.twitter.com/SKypEisfXX
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 12, 2023
As part of the initiative, a scholarship fund and a corresponding expert task force will be created. According to the prime minister’s vision, with the funding, the United Kingdom can become a hub of the AI industry.
The main areas will include developments in agriculture and healthcare.
Sunak says that a mix of research, education and international cooperation lies at the heart of developing the UK’s technology landscape.
He said he understands concerns about the risks of AI technologies. To address this, Sunak emphasised his commitment to safety research. He also announced preparations for a thematic international summit.
Under the plan, the government will work with industry giants — Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic. The companies have pledged to provide the UK government with early access to their AI models for research.
Earlier, Sunak stated his intention to raise the topic of AI risks at the G7 summit in Hiroshima. According to him, artificial intelligence can bring benefits and transform society.
In May the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority initiated an investigation into the AI industry.
In April, Sunak announced a grant of £100 million to spur the development of “sovereign AI.”