Rob Price

Today, OpenAI and the British government signed a new agreement to harness AI’s transformative power to make government services more efficient, while fueling private-sector innovation across the UK. It’s another step forward in building a global system of democratic AI designed to put the technology into the hands of as many people as possible OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman signed the agreement remotely alongside Peter Kyle MP, the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. As Sam put it, “AI is a core technology for nation building that will transform economies and deliver growth” He’s exactly right. As part of this partnership, we’ll work with the UK government to bring AI’s benefits into everyday use—helping civil servants work more efficiently, supporting small businesses as they navigate public services, and sharing technical expertise to advance safe, responsible deployment This partnership will advance the core goal of the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which calls for making AI more accessible by accelerating infrastructure construction and expanding access to the data needed to train cutting‑edge models AI is already having a tangible impact in Britain. Developers, startups, established companies like Virgin Atlantic, and world‑class research institutions such as Oxford University use our technology to fuel innovation, increase productivity, and create new economic opportunities. The UK government is leading by example: A GOV.UK business chatbot helps thousands of small enterprises get clearer, faster answers on rules and support programs “Humphrey,” Whitehall’s AI assistant, lightens administrative load so officials can focus on higher‑value work The agreement also reflects our ongoing commitment to working with the UK to bring AI’s gains to more British citizens. OpenAI’s first international office opened in London in 2023, and we plan to further expand our UK presence later this year Our work in the UK and around the world is focused on ensuring that democratic AI—which puts the technology in the hands of as many people as possible so they can share in its productivity gains—wins out over  concentrated AI, which would keep the benefits limited to a few This week’s expected release of the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan is likely to add further momentum to the growing effort to build a global system of democratic AI rails by proposing new ways of speeding AI infrastructure construction, modernizing the grid, and generating the energy needed to power advanced AI data centers This is how you build democratic AI—not in one leap, but step by step, putting the technology in more hands so people everywhere can solve hard problems and improve their lives. This agreement is a powerful step forward Read more about the new partnership here https://lnkd.in/gUyUq2uB

375

11 Comments

More than 80,000 references to AI have aired on UK TV and radio this year. The majority of those discussions fuel alarm, not action. Be Broadcast’s Mission Control has published its latest white paper, showing how broadcast is shaping Britain’s understanding of AI sector by sector. The analysis spans: Everyday use: productivity, consumer tech, business and industry People and society: jobs, education, health, culture, media, politics, public services Innovation and discovery: science, research, breakthroughs Risks and responsibilities: scams, defence, regulation, climate, existential threats The full white paper is available now at: https://lnkd.in/eynBN_J7

97

6 Comments

The UK Government’s just announced a new partnership with OpenAI. https://lnkd.in/efyPP8Cc It follows similar moves with Google Cloud and Anthropic — part of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s push to make sure the UK stays right in the mix when it comes to AI. Access to the latest tech, shaping the conversation, opening doors for AI to help transform public services. All good stuff. But let’s not kid ourselves: access isn’t agency. Partnership isn’t sovereignty. The UK’s got serious AI credentials. The foundations of today’s large language models were built here, on the back of world-class British research. We still have some of the best minds in the world in our universities and labs. But having great research isn’t enough if we don’t turn it into capability — into companies, into products, into outcomes that drive growth and resilience. If we want the next trillion-pound company to be born here — and why shouldn’t it be? — we need to back our own. That means sovereign infrastructure, mission-driven innovation, and making sure SMEs have the environment to scale. At Connected Places Catapult, that’s exactly what we’re here to do: unlock the value of data, AI, and digital infrastructure to build stronger, more resilient places and economies. And this isn’t just about chasing the next big model. It’s about how AI helps us hit the big goals: net zero, better health, more resilient infrastructure, more connected places. If the UK gets this right, we’re not just in the AI race — we’re setting the pace for how this technology delivers real outcomes, on our terms, for the public good. So yes, well done DSIT. But now it’s over to UK researchers, SMEs and innovators. Let’s get building .. faster. Mark Enzer Digital Twin Hub Connected Places Catapult Dr Alison Vincent, CBE FREng Erika Lewis Department for Science, Innovation and Technology #AI #Innovation #UKTech #DigitalInfrastructure #Resilience #Sovereignty #DSIT #Catapults #AIForGood #MissionDrivenInnovation #SME

25

6 Comments