UK’s AI Future Hinges on Robust Infrastructure, Say Tech Leaders at Labour Party Conference
London, UK – As the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionise industries and economies continues to be a focal point, tech leaders at the recent Labour Party Conference underscored a critical issue often overlooked in the UK’s AI ambitions: the nation's infrastructure. According to Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, concerns about AI taking jobs should take a backseat to the pressing matter of whether the UK’s infrastructure is equipped to support AI advancements.
OpenUK, which had a notable presence at the conference, hosted two of its first tech events on Sunday. These events drew attention particularly due to the new government’s recent moves to ease planning restrictions on datacentres and reclassified them as critical national infrastructure by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Despite these significant developments, OpenUK’s panel was the only session that specifically addressed datacentres, highlighting a gap in the broader discourse.
Brock pointed out that modern digital services, which are increasingly reliant on AI, fundamentally depend on robust and expansive datacentre infrastructure. Currently, the UK lags behind in the AI race, evidenced by its fall on the Tortoise Index and the rapid advancements by France and Germany. France, in particular, has overtaken the UK in sharing open AI, driven by policies under President Emmanuel Macron.
The UK's aspirations to lead in AI are thus entwined with its capacity to build and sustain a competitive infrastructure. The dialogue at the conference shifted to strategic considerations, encompassing the platform and data landscape with a keen focus on sustainability—beyond climate change to include sustainable development goals and longevity. Discussions also centred on energy availability and cost, pinpointing how to deliver the right energy to the right place at the right price, a focus of panellist Emma Fryer from Cyrus One.
Dan Aldridge MP provided insights into the government's stance, while Dan Scarbrough from network provider Steila highlighted AI’s role as the primary use case for accelerated compute technology, suggesting a future with more decentralised, smaller datacentres.
With the internet now 40 years old, the panel discussed the necessity of rethinking the nation’s information superhighways. While setting up an energy-efficient datacentre is straightforward, broader sector challenges require immediate attention. Emma Fryer emphasised the importance of balancing new energy requirements and innovative technologies with cost considerations.
The second event hosted by OpenUK, titled "Opening AI", delved into the complexities of open-source AI. Although termed open source, the practice currently lacks a definitive and universally accepted description. Sara Edwards MP and Lisa Jones MP, who were part of the discussion, explored the implications of defining open-source AI and the issues surrounding claims of ‘open washing’ in current AI offerings.
Edwards stressed the importance of clarity in terminology as the UK progresses towards an AI bill - an approach that echoes cautious optimism that the new government will engage thoughtfully with these definitions. Lisa Jones highlighted the critical need for a skilled workforce to support future technologies, emphasising the significant role of training and education in this sector.
Stewart Laing of Asanti noted that, despite Brexit, the UK's tech sector harbours the potential to outpace Europe but has yet to do so in AI and storage domains. He mentioned the necessity for procurement processes to be cloud-first, ensuring access to compute and GPUs remains a priority on the government's agenda.
As Aldridge remarked, progress would require input from new voices in the tech industry, especially those with expertise in deep tech and global AI. OpenUK’s events at the Labour Party Conference succeeded in creating a platform for these crucial conversations, yet there remains a concern that the perspectives of smaller players may not receive adequate attention.
The UK’s path to AI leadership is rife with opportunities but equally challenged by its infrastructural readiness. The discussions at the Labour Party Conference represent a tentative step towards addressing these pressing issues.
Source: Noah Wire Services