The technology secretary speaks about the importance of forging alliances to make UK tech more resilient to geopolitical pressureIn a recent address at the Royal United Services Institute, Liz Kendall, the UK’s technology secretary, delved into the profound impact of technological disruption on our societies and economies. She also highlighted the crucial role Britain must play in the rapidly evolving tech economy. Kendall’s speech underscored the fact that the technological revolution we are witnessing today was beyond our wildest imaginations just a few years ago.
Kendall drew attention to the geopolitical rivalry that is fuelling massive investments in technology by nation-states. She questioned why China has invested billions in the semiconductor industry and why the US is pouring vast resources into drones and autonomous warfare. The answer, she suggested, is simple: to either catch up or stay ahead. Kendall pointed out that when nations spot a new technology on the horizon, they scramble to be the first to develop it, thereby staking their claim on the future.
The technology secretary urged UK policymakers and the tech sector to take immediate action to secure Britain’s position in this new technological era. Kendall, who studied history at university, used her non-tech background to draw parallels between the past and the present. She noted that in the past, a nation’s supremacy was determined by the size of its navy. However, recent headlines have highlighted the UK’s naval forces are now significantly depleted.
In today’s world, Kendall argued, the defining currency is artificial intelligence (AI). She believes that the nations which successfully harness AI will not only lead the race to cure diseases, discover new materials, and create trillion-dollar companies, but they will also build far more powerful militaries. Kendall sees AI as the driving force behind both economic power and “hard power”.
Kendall warned that the future is rapidly approaching – not in the next few decades, but in the next few years. She projected that with the current pace of AI model development, by the end of next year, tasks that currently take software engineers weeks to complete will be accomplished by AI in mere hours.
In a significant departure from US-led tech, Kendall advocated for the development of sovereign AI capabilities in the UK. She emphasised that this is not about isolation or trying to build everything independently, but about ensuring that Britain becomes an indispensable player in the technologies that will shape the future. She envisions Britain as a keystone in the global AI architecture, rather than a passive observer of decisions made elsewhere.
Kendall defined AI sovereignty for Britain as a means to reduce over-dependencies and bolster resilience in key national strategic priorities. She argued that by securing greater control and leverage over crucial issues, Britain could become an indispensable partner in the global tech architecture.
On 16 April, the government launched the Sovereign AI Fund, which offers grants ranging from £1m to £9m to support the creation of strategic AI assets. This initiative is designed to help the UK’s most promising AI startups grow and scale.
In conclusion, Kendall’s speech underscored the urgent need for Britain to take decisive action in the face of rapid technological disruption. By investing in AI and becoming a keystone in the global tech architecture, Britain can secure its place in the new technological era and shape the future of AI.
