Marvin OnumonuThe Government has announced thousands of new jobs in AI across the UK, including the South, Wales, Bristol and London.
A new AI growth zone in South Wales will bring more than 5,000 jobs over the next decade, including roles at the former Ford Bridgend engine plant.
British AI firms will get new opportunities to grow, while free access to compute will be expanded for researchers and scientists.
The Government will back scientists with up to £137m for breakthroughs in new drugs, cures and treatments.
Ahead of the Budget, plans aim to boost investment, jobs and growth, giving businesses chances to scale and compete internationally. International and British companies have committed £24.25bn in private investment in the last month.
Vantage Data Centers and Microsoft will work with the Government to deliver another AI growth zone in South Wales.
£10bn of investment will unlock at least 5,000 jobs, including in industrial areas like the former Ford Bridgend engine plant.
AI growth zones will receive £5m Government funding each to help businesses adopt new technology and invest in workers’ skills.
To ensure British businesses and researchers lead in AI, the Government will support firms and scientists with tools to succeed.
A new “advance market commitment” will see the Government act as a first customer for promising UK start-ups developing AI hardware, backed by up to £100m.
AI growth zone data centres will house billions of pounds of hardware, with the goal to see British chips deployed alongside other vendors.
Venture capitalist James Wise will chair the sovereign AI unit, backed by almost £500m, to build and scale AI capabilities in the UK.
The unit will bring together Government, industry and investors to support high potential start-ups and scale-ups.
New AI ambassadors have been named.
Nobel prize winning economist Simon Johnson will work with public services and businesses to boost productivity.
Tom Blomfield will champion British start-ups to scale up and attract talent and investment.
Raia Hadsell will promote the UK’s position in AI innovation and security.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall, said: “We are ambitious for our country and believe Britain’s best days lie ahead.
“We’re announcing a package of measures that ensure we seize the opportunities to get jobs and growth in every part of the country.
“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.”
Kendall added: “This is about bringing jobs, opportunities and hope to the people and places that need it most, delivering on our promise of change.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This government promised to unlock growth and that is exactly what we are doing.
“Today’s confirmation of our fourth AI Growth Zone is our Plan for Change in action – creating thousands of jobs and unlocking new investment for local communities in the industries of the future, cementing our position as Europe’s leading tech sector.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Wales will now have 2 brand-new AI Growth Zones bringing thousands of jobs to both North and South Wales and driving economic growth across the country.
“South Wales is already the home of a growing tech industry and this major investment in the region will help cement the UK’s place as a global leader in AI.”
