LONDON – The British government announced on Monday its commitment to removing the bureaucratic obstacles that are impeding the construction of data centers essential for artificial intelligence. Simultaneously, it expressed its intent to adopt a “pro-innovation” stance in regulating this technology.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended the potential of AI while outlining extensive strategies to leverage this technology, emphasizing its pivotal role in the government’s endeavors to revitalize the economy and trigger a surge in lackluster growth.
Starmer expressed his aspiration for Britain to emerge as “a leading AI powerhouse” capable of matching the technological advancements made by countries such as the United States and China, which have been at the forefront of AI innovation.
Under the 50-point plan, which provided few details on investment amounts, the government plans to massively expand public computing power, including by building a new national supercomputer and setting up AI “growth zones” with “streamlined” building approval process.
“So if you’re looking at where to build your data centers, we will speed up planning permission if you need better access to power,” Starmer said.
Britain’s complex building permission rules are frequently blamed for preventing development of big projects such as data centers. After taking power in July, Starmer’s Labour government vowed to review decisions by local authorities to reject some projects.
The government will also stick to its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating AI, which involves giving responsibility to existing industry regulators instead of drawing up a new set of rules like the European Union has done. It will also continue to support of U.K.’s AI Safety Institute, set up under Starmer’s Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak to carry out research on the most cutting-edge AI models and the existential but far-off risks they pose.
“We will test and understand AI before we regulate it to make sure that when we do it, it’s proportionate and grounded in the science,” Starmer said.
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