Theresa May Pledges AI as Priority for Post-Brexit Industrial Strategy
Theresa May Pledges AI as Priority for Post-Brexit Industrial Strategy
January 25, 2017
Despite whether you are pleased with the result of the post-Brexit strategy or not, there is good news for the tech enthusiasts (and others looking to enter the world of AI), in the UK. Theresa May is placing artificial intelligence, 5G wireless Internet, smart energy technology and robotics on the agenda for the post-Brexit industrial strategy.
According to Business Insider, Theresa May is now set to launch the government’s “Modern Industrial Strategy” on Monday during the regional meeting of the cabinet in the North West. During an announcement made Sunday evening, the Prime Minister confirmed that the strategy will be centered around ten key strategic pillars, where the first in line is “Investing in science, research and innovation”.
“The release says that the £4.7 billion increase in research & development (R&D) funding announced in last year’s Autumn Statement is central to the new industrial strategy”, Business Insider writes.
The investment is earmarked for areas involving AI and robotics, which are the only specific industries name checked in the release. According to Greg Clark, Business and Energy Secretary, the new Modern Industrial Strategy will “improve living standards and drive economic growth across the whole country”.
The desired outcome for the government appears to be to secure Britain against the impact that automation can potentially have on the workforce.
The focus should rather be on turning British citizens into a nation of highly skilled technical workers, able to enable this new technology, rather than replacing them with the technology itself.
Theresa May said in a release announcing the new “Institutes of Technology”: “Our modern Industrial Strategy is a critical part of our plan for post-Brexit Britain.