UK needs to seize AI opportunity to remain tech capital, says Sunak

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain needs to act quickly to remain a tech hub, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told tech industry leaders on Monday, identifying the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. encourage you to do so.

Sunak will speak at the beginning of London Tech Week and say, “There’s a technology tectonic going on.”

“If we want to not only maintain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals, but also move forward and make this country one of the best places to start, grow and invest in the world, I We have to act, and act fast,” said Sunak, according to an advance excerpt released by his office.

“That is my goal.

Governments around the world are now trying to find a balance where they can assess and curb some of AI’s potential negative impacts without stifling innovation.

Rather than creating a new agency dedicated to AI, the UK in March chose to share regulatory responsibilities for AI with agencies overseeing human rights, health, safety and competition.

Sunak said the technology sector is central to his economic growth priorities, and how the government can take advantage of the opportunities presented by transformative technologies such as AI, which proponents have compared to the advent of the internet. outlining how to work with companies on

During a visit to Washington last week, Sunak said the UK will host a global summit on the safety of artificial intelligence later this year to examine the risks of AI and how they can be mitigated through internationally coordinated action. He said he would discuss it.

“The potential is enormous, but we have to do it safely and we will,” he said Monday. “I want the UK to be not just an intellectual home, but a geographic home for global AI safety regulation.”