This essay has been written by Mark Corbett, London Higher, and forms part of a publication entitled ‘Perspectives on the role of London’s higher education sector in global AI leadership: A collection of essays’ which is being published on the London Higher website one part at a time.
London is at the vanguard of thinking and application of AI. Its reputation as a global leader is well-deserved – we are sitting on a range of AI assets that are both broad and deep.
Although we are currently a leader in this space, we must not fall behind in either scale or ambition. Our contributors to this thought leadership piece have made a clear and compelling case for the contribution of higher education to be brought to bear in cross-sector collaboration to ensure this golden opportunity does not pass us by. The skills, knowledge and research from London’s universities are the foundations for a pipeline of start-ups and spinouts that can strengthen and diversify the whole UK economy, but we must work together towards a common goal. Our homegrown AI enterprises can prosper, grow and lead the world, providing our citizens with the breadth of benefits that responsible AI application can deliver, together with the economic advantages of leading the way in a high value, high growth sector.
To achieve our potential we must:
- Be clear on where the UK is heading on AI so we can articulate our competitive advantage. The UK can do things differently to our key competitors. Where AI technology in China is government led, and the USA is a free market, here in London and the UK we can be more collaborative…more ‘grown-up’. Our ability to convene, discuss and sustain diverse views is a unique strength. The UK has a reputation for responsible AI and our ability to harness the benefits of AI without the dangers is not only the right thing to do, it is hugely valuable too.
- Get better at scaling up. London is a great place to start-up or spin-out a business, but barriers to access to international talent and finance, as well as having the right infrastructure means we under-perform in this area. A long-term strategy on migration that ensures universities are able to recruit and attract international students, and businesses have access to international talent after graduation (including keeping the Graduate Route visa) is vital. We should also make the most of existing structures that have expertise in business growth and investment, such as the Scale-up Institute and the British Business Bank – the latter of which has undertaken successful work on a regional level through the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine.
- Get the balance right on regulation. We must have the freedom and space to innovate, yet we should be mindful that the EU is our largest trading partner. Too much regulatory divergence, and we may risk losing our ability to translate our outputs to key markets.
- Achieve greater collaboration and better coordination. Although London has multiple assets and centres of expertise, these could be better joined-up. The new Industrial Strategy needs to ensure coordination between national AI assets such as The Alan Turing Institute, The AI Safety Institute (AISI) and Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), whilst drawing appropriately on, and harnessing, local growth plans. This will enable all key actors to better align their goals and ensure that AI is used responsibly to drive growth and wider social and economic benefits for Londoners and communities across the UK.
- Let London compete globally in this space. By using AI, London can create global solutions to global challenges in areas such as health and climate change. London is the place where generative AI can be looked at in different languages, situated in an international community and with knowledge of global markets. The question for government is how London can lead the way and work for the whole of the UK.
With a new government in Westminster that has set out their aspiration for all sectors, including universities, to drive growth, now is the time to set out a clear strategy for how higher education, business and government can work together to maximise opportunities in AI.
