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 highlighted the pivotal 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 nation-state investments in technology. She posed thought-provoking questions, “Why has China invested billions in the semiconductor industry? To catch up. Why does the US pour billions into drones and autonomous warfare? To stay ahead.” These questions underscore the fierce competition among nations to be the first to develop and harness new technologies, thereby securing their claim to the future.
The technology secretary urged policymakers and the UK tech sector to seize the moment and solidify 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 pointed out 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 depletion.
In today’s world, Kendall argued, the defining currency is artificial intelligence (AI). She asserted that countries that 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 firmly believes that AI is 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. With the pace of AI model development, she predicted that by the end of next year, AI will be able to accomplish in hours what currently takes software engineers weeks.
In a notable shift away from US-led tech, Kendall advocated for building sovereign AI capabilities in the UK. She emphasized that this is not about isolation or trying to build everything alone. Instead, it’s 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 bystander to decisions made elsewhere.
“For Britain, AI sovereignty is about reducing over-dependencies and increasing resilience in key national strategic priorities. We secure greater control and greater leverage over the issues that matter most. And if you want true leverage for your country, you need to be a keystone in the global tech architecture – an indispensable partner,” she said.
On 16 April, the government opened applications to the Sovereign AI Fund. This fund offers grants ranging from £1m to £9m to support the creation of strategic AI assets. It is designed to help the UK’s most promising AI startups grow and scale.
In conclusion, Kendall’s speech was a clarion call for Britain to take decisive action in the face of technological disruption. She emphasized the need for the UK to build its AI capabilities and become an indispensable player in the global tech architecture. The future is coming at us fast, and Britain must be ready to meet it head-on.
