by Paul Sandle
LONDON, July 17 (Reuters)
The UK announces an investment that will represent a significant shift toward global leadership in artificial intelligence. While a dispute rages between the powers of the United States, China, and India, the nation decides to boost its computing capacity not only out of concern for global technological competitiveness, but also for national autonomy and innovation. What can we expect from this new UK technology venture? Learn all about it.
A new global race: The UK bets on AI
Britain set out its plan to invest 1 billion pounds ($1.34 billion) in computing infrastructure to drive the development of artificial intelligence, which will increase its public compute capacity 20 fold over the next five years. The race to develop AI is intensifying, with the United States, China and India emerging as front runners, putting pressure on Europe to make up lost ground.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the funding at London Tech Week last month, where he shared the stage with Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang. The tech leader said Britain needed to boost its computing infrastructure to deliver the full potential of its leading artificial intelligence research base.
The government said on Thursday it would bring together the country’s most powerful supercomputers – Isambard-AI based in Bristol and Dawn in Cambridge – in an AI Research Resource (AIRR) system, delivered with partners including Nvidia NVDA.O, HPE HPE.N, Dell Technologies DELL.N and Intel INTC.O.
“Britain has top of the class talent in AI and our plan will put a rocket under our brilliant researchers, scientists, and engineers – giving them the tools they need to make Britain the best place to do their work,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, launched the Isambard supercomputer on Thursday.
Practical applications of AI for the UK
The initiative has other objectives beyond its exclusive application in the technology sector. One such option is public health, where technology can have a significant impact. The new supercomputers is helping researchers at University College London with cancer screening and imaging, with greater refinement and accuracy. The goal is for this technology to help identify cancer more quickly and aid in early diagnosis, enabling more effective treatments.
University College London researchers are already using the supercomputer to line up pioneering AI tools which could revolutionise cancer screening in the National Health Service, the government said. Using prostate cancer as its initial test case, they are developing one of the first scalable AI models dedicated to medical imaging – using AI to analyse MRI scans and identify patients in need of treatment sooner, it said.
Strategic national partnership and networks
Working alongside the AI Research Resource, Britain said it was also setting up a network of National Supercomputing Centres, with the first based in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Germany wants AI to drive 10% of its economic output by 2030 and make AI an important tool in central fields of research, according to a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The British goal is to decentralize and democratize access to AI technology, which is explained by the fact that Edinburgh was the first location chosen to host the Supercomputing Centers. The plan goes beyond infrastructure; the national network is a coordinated structure, with collaboration from companies, universities, an the government. The ambitious goal for applying AI worldwide, seeking economic and technological influence, are expected to reach the entire economic sector by 2030.
An important step towards the future
The UK is on a journey to actively shape the development of artificial intelligence worldwide. By combining political ambition with international collaboration, with practical applications in key areas such as healthcare, the country is paving a path to establishing itself as a global hub for AI research and innovation.