The UK intends to speed up data center approvals as part of its AI action plan

Amid signs of a stagnant economy, the UK is turning to artificial intelligence. On Monday, British Minister Keir Starmer announced a new decision . At the heart of the initiative are “AI growth zones,” which the government plans to create in non-industrial areas across the country.

In these areas, a Labor government will speed up planning approvals for data centers and provide better access to the national energy grid. Starmer said the UK’s first AI growth zone will be established in Culham, Oxfordshire, home to the country’s Atomic Energy Authority. More regions will be announced in the summer.

Meanwhile, Starmer’s government plans to increase state-owned computing capacity by a factor of 20, starting with the “immediate” construction of a new supercomputer with “enough AI power to play chess half a million times a second.” As of November 2024, the UK has 14 supercomputers list, placing it far behind the United States and China.

Additionally, the plan will see the government create a national data library, which it says will make the country more attractive to investors by allowing private industry to “unlock the value of public data safely and securely.” Finally, the new AI Energy Council will work with energy companies to meet the energy requirements of the AI ​​industry in a way that is consistent with the government’s clean energy strategy.

“Artificial intelligence will drive incredible change in our country. From teachers personalizing lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record keeping, to accelerating planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people,” Starmer said. “But the AI ​​industry needs government.” Standing by their side is a government that will not sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. “In a world characterized by fierce competition, we cannot stand idly by.”

Over the next ten years, the Starmer government estimates that its strategy could generate up to £47 billion (US$57 billion) of annual economic growth. This announcement comes after the UK economy In the third quarter of last year. From this perspective, making the country more attractive for outside investment is not the worst idea – especially with companies like Microsoft planning to spend In new data centers this year.