Tony Grubb, MBA

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

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Today, the CMA has announced proposals to drive more competition on mobile platforms through the new Digital Markets Competition Regime, which came into force in January. The measures we've laid out today are designed to boost the UK’s app economy, unlocking global success and ensuring UK consumers aren’t left behind as innovations are rolled out around the world. The app economy generates c.1.5% of UK GDP and supports around 400,000 jobs here. Ensuring competition works well is critical to investment, innovation and growth, as well as allowing UK consumers to benefit from the latest innovations, high quality experiences and more choice. You can read about the provisional decision here: https://lnkd.in/e3ZEWbkS #mobile #digital #competition #digitalmarkets #apps

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Towards Competitive Cloud Ecosystems: Strategic Responses for Europe’s Digital Future | published by AI & Partners This report provides a structural assessment of #Europe’s cloud computing landscape, analysing how concentration in infrastructure and software markets undermines #digitalsovereignty and distorts competition. With five global providers currently controlling over 75% of Europe’s #cloud infrastructure market, and proprietary software licensing practices affecting more than 60% of EU-based enterprise clients, the report frames vendor lock-in and data portability restrictions as systemic barriers to #economicresilience and #digitalautonomy across the European Union. The study integrates legal analysis, expert interviews, and comparative policy benchmarking, revealing that only 9 EU Member States have implemented full interoperability mandates, while over 70% of public sector cloud contracts remain dependent on non-EU providers. Despite the entry into force of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Data Act, the report highlights ongoing circumvention tactics such as restrictive bundling, proprietary #APIs, and excessive egress fees. These practices increase customer switching costs by up to 35%, and in some sectors, limit multi-cloud adoption to below 20% of firms. The report outlines a three-pillar response strategy. First, it calls for revised antitrust enforcement focused on dynamic licensing abuses, supported by the creation of a dedicated Cloud Competition Unit under the European Commission. Second, it recommends the adoption of mandatory interoperability and portability protocols across #IaaS, #PaaS, and #SaaS layers, tied to certification mechanisms under the EU #Cybersecurity Act. Third, it encourages the allocation of at least 25% of public cloud procurement budgets toward certified #Europeanproviders to stimulate demand-side competition and reduce systemic dependency on non-EU actors. In conclusion, the report argues that Europe must reorient its cloud governance paradigm to favour anticipatory regulation, enforceable technical standards, and strategic industrial policy. As cloud infrastructure becomes a critical enabler of #AI, #quantumcomputing, and #crossborderdataecosystems, the ability to ensure open, contestable, and interoperable digital markets will define the EU’s technological sovereignty and long-term competitiveness.

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It was my pleasure to be published in Node recently 👇 https://lnkd.in/e8_Z3KuF. AI agents are transforming UK businesses, but real value comes from trust—built on governance. As new EU and UK rules raise the bar, organisations must prioritise robust data and unified governance to mitigate risks and scale AI from pilots to production. Those who build safe, transparent, and accountable AI agents will lead the global race. Now is the moment to act: governance isn’t a blocker, it’s a competitive edge.

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The UK Government has just published its Compute Roadmap, outlining a long-term strategy to position the UK as a global leader in compute capability, spanning classical, AI, and quantum technologies. Of particular interest is the recognition that #quantumcomputing will become essential in addressing challenges that cannot be solved efficiently through classical means—such as molecular #modelling, secure #communications, and large-scale #optimisation. The roadmap also calls for the development of hybrid computing architectures, integrating quantum with #AI and #HPC, and stresses the need for application-specific quantum innovation in #chemistry, #materials science, and beyond. Importantly, the strategy places emphasis on building a coherent national compute #infrastructure and nurturing a highly skilled #workforce - both of which are critical for scaling the impact of quantum technologies. A significant signal of intent, and a valuable reference point for those working at the intersection of science, industry, and public policy. Link to Policy Paper: https://lnkd.in/eT9rTxGu Peter Kyle Chris Bryant Feryal Clark Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Emran Mian Joanna Davinson Lindsay Mason Chris Johnson Dave Smith Tom Scott Tom Newby Tianna V. Faiyaz Amin Rachel Maze David Knott Diego Rodriguez Mejias #QuantumComputing #UKScienceAndTechnology #ComputeStrategy #UKInnovation #AI #HPC #HybridComputing #Policy #DeepTech #ResearchAndDevelopment

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The UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan declares our bid to dominate the AI era. Published recently, geopolitics and economic shifts underscore the urgency of world‑class compute infrastructure. This roadmap sets out an outcomes‑driven vision for a dynamic, resilient compute ecosystem by uniting public and private resources from national supercomputers to regional AI hubs, training and inference platforms, and more. Please read the full ten‑point plan for all the detail but, below is a brief summary: £2 billion investment: 20× AI Research Resource, a new Edinburgh supercomputer, plus National Supercomputing Centres and global partnerships. Targeted compute allocations: Prioritise mission‑critical R&D, guarantee capacity for the Sovereign AI Unit and AI Security Institute, and launch AI Growth Zones. Sustainable AI power: Leverage renewables, advanced nuclear, and smart grids while supporting UK firms with testbeds, skills pipelines and next‑gen compute innovation. This plan positions the UK to shape the next era of AI breakthroughs at home and on the world stage. It is great to see some clear ambition. Link to the full report in comments.

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The UK Ministry of Defence just published their first Responsible AI Senior Officers' Report, and the findings mirror what we're seeing across every sector: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐈 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲. The MOD appointed Responsible AI Senior Officers (RAISOs) across 12 organisations. But the report makes clear these senior roles are just the start. Each RAISO needs dedicated support teams, local points of contact, and multidisciplinary expertise to function effectively. Their experience maps directly onto the four essential tracks for AI governance: ➜ Building organisational foundations: RAISOs are establishing governance structures, building AI inventories, and creating networks. The ad hoc approach worked initially, but now they need dedicated teams. ➜ Navigating laws and standards: JSP 936, their AI policy directive, has provided the impetus for internal policy updates across organisations. Good policy creates clarity that accelerates responsible adoption. ➜ Creating guardrails: They've embedded an AI ethics risk assessment toolkit into existing frameworks while facing what they describe as "the tri-fold task of recruiting external AI experts, training existing personnel to a high level, and upskilling the rest of the workforce." ➜ Operating with human oversight: They're building monitoring dashboards and launching Digital Skills for Defence, recognising that meaningful human control requires specific capabilities, training, and infrastructure. The report's conclusion on workforce is clear: "While there is a growing cadre of AI professionals in some areas, the most significant challenge identified across all RAISO statements is increasing the availability of suitably qualified and experienced personnel to support Defence's commitment to Responsible AI Adoption." What are the challenges and opportunities across these four tracks in your organisation? Download the skills map to see where your experience fits and plot your course to becoming an AI Governance Pro: 📥  https://lnkd.in/gHYeM4bM

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