Yesterday [SATURDAY] Peter Kyle, Labour’s Shadow Science,
Innovation and Technology Secretary, arrived in Washington DC for
the start of a week-long visit to the United States, where he
will meet with representatives of the United States Government
and leading tech companies including, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta,
Google, Apple, Oracle, Open AI and Anthropic.
Visiting Washington DC, Seattle and Silicon Valley over the
course of the trip, the Shadow Technology Secretary will discuss
the material impact AI is already having on people’s lives, from
helping with drug discovery to relieving traffic congestion. He
will meet with leading AI labs to discuss the potential for AI to
improve public services from faster cancer scans to personalised
lesson plans for children.
In a bid to drive investment in the UK, Peter Kyle will make
clear that a Labour government would have a relentless focus on
economic growth, championing the strength and skills of the UK
workforce which puts us in prime position to adopt new technology
in a responsible way.
The UK has the ability to pave the way in the use of these new
technologies but investment is being held back by uncertainty
from the Conservative Government.
- A new data centre on a former quarry next to the M25 was
blocked by a minister – in part because it might ruin the view
from the motorway. Labour would reform the planning
system to unlock investment.
- Rishi Sunak’s inaction on regulation is leading to insecurity
for businesses and working people. A Labour
Government would introduce a Regulatory Innovation Office to
speed up existing regulations and make safety reporting
requirements mandatory for frontier labs to build public trust
and business confidence.
- The government is failing to ensure the public sees the
benefits of AI for our public services, with innovation held back
by complex bureaucratic procurement
processes. Labour would introduce a new plan for NHS
procurement, so innovators have a clearer route
to scale up and get new diagnostics and treatments into the
NHS.
The Office for Budget Responsibility
recently highlighted the scale of the growth opportunity from AI,
which could see the exchequer receive £60 billion more in
revenues to spend on priorities like the NHS and other public
services.
, Labour’s Shadow Science,
Innovation and Technology Secretary, said:
“New technology is the greatest opportunity we have to restore
our public services and grow the economy. I have seen AI tools
which I believe would have caught my mum’s cancer earlier. It is
personal for me to get this technology used in a way which keeps
families together for longer.
“UK businesses can benefit hugely from the innovation this latest
wave of technology can bring. A Labour government wants to
unleash innovation and give companies the certainty needed to
invest in our country, boosting wages and getting the economy
growing again.”
Ends
Notes
Economic and fiscal outlook – November 2023
- The OBR’s latest report included an upside
scenario ‘which would see productivity
growth returning toward its pre-financial crisis average, perhaps
due to an acceleration in the pace of technological change, such
as the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence.’
- In this scenario fiscal headroom increases to £72.0 billion,
compared to £13.0 billion in the central forecast. Achieving this
will require a government that partners with businesses and
unblocks the barriers to growth.
OBR November Page 144 https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/E03004355_November-Economic-and-Fiscal-Outlook_Web-Accessible.pdf
City AM Data Centre Planning Report https://www.cityam.com/deranged-government-blocks-data-centre-build-next-to-m25-in-case-it-ruins-the-green-belt/
During the visit, Peter Kyle will meet with:
Department of Commerce
General Service Administration
Gates Foundation
Microsoft
Amazon
Meta
Google and Google Quantum Lab
Apple
Oracle
Open AI
Anthropic
