Google has recently issued a warning that the UK could fall behind in the global race for artificial intelligence (AI), especially if the government fails to accelerate the construction of data centers and relax restrictions on the use of copyrighted works.
Debbie Weinstein, Managing Director of Google UK, stated that while the government has recognized the opportunities presented by AI, more policies are needed to promote its application.
Image source note: The image was generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney
Weinstein mentioned that the UK ranks only seventh in the Global AI Readiness Index, significantly lagging behind other countries. She emphasized that the UK has a rich history and advantages in the AI field, but without proactive measures, the future competition will be very challenging.
In recent years, with the rapid rise of AI technologies like ChatGPT, a global investment boom in AI has emerged. At the same time, due to budget cuts, some AI projects of the Labour government are facing suspension. For example, the planned investment of £800 million in a supercomputing project and £500 million in AI research resources have been cancelled.
Regarding the suspension of the supercomputing project, Weinstein hopes that the government's upcoming "AI Action Plan" will provide a comprehensive perspective on the investments needed by the UK. Google proposes in a forthcoming policy recommendation document to establish a "National Research Cloud," which would provide necessary computing power and data for startups and academia.
Google's report points out that the UK is struggling to attract investment in data centers and commends the Labour Party's commitment to building more data centers. The report also suggests establishing a national skills service to help the workforce adapt to AI development and integrate AI technology more broadly into public services.
Another key recommendation is to revise UK copyright laws. With the abandonment of new regulations for AI model training on copyrighted materials this year, Weinstein states that this unresolved copyright issue is becoming a barrier to development. Google hopes to reinstate the 2023 policy allowing text and data mining (TDM) for commercial purposes.
Weinstein further emphasizes that regulation should aim to "support innovation," encouraging the government to rely more on existing regulatory frameworks rather than creating new regulations. Meanwhile, the UK government is drafting an AI bill, which plans to make voluntary AI model testing agreements between the government and tech companies legally binding.
A UK government spokesperson said that their AI Opportunities Action Plan will ensure sufficient infrastructure, skills, and data access to help businesses and public services unlock the potential of AI. However, the government also emphasizes the need to ensure the safe development of AI and enhance public trust.
Key Points:
🌐 The UK ranks only seventh in the Global AI Readiness Index, urgently needing to accelerate data center construction.
💡 Google recommends establishing a "National Research Cloud" to support startups and academic research.
📜 Reform copyright laws to relax restrictions on the use of copyrighted materials, promoting AI development.