Last month, the UK government officially launched its AI Action Plan – a strategic roadmap designed to strengthen the UK's global competitiveness in AI development and adoption. The plan makes 50 recommendations spanning key areas such as improving data capabilities and access, developing AI talent, and driving adoption across both public and private sectors. As a leading provider of technology services, DSP welcomes this substantial investment in the technology sector to realise the potential that AI solutions can unlock for organisations and industries across the UK.
This includes building physical infrastructure such as data centres and ensuring sufficient utilities, making high-quality data assets available, and developing an appropriate workforce. It also includes new regulations to ensure ethical and safe use of data.
As a firm that uses and develops AI solutions, we understand the potential of AI to enhance the way we all live. The Action Plan aims to remove barriers to entry and make AI key to delivering public services, with a 'mutually reinforcing' relationship with private sector innovation.
This includes creating a UK Sovereign AI unit to invest in innovation that puts the UK at the forefront of AI providers and services globally.
AI is rapidly becoming a necessity for organisations aiming to maintain a competitive edge. The Action Plan highlights the opportunities and challenges that AI presents to businesses. Here's what to consider if you haven't already:
We all realise that AI-powered solutions can carry out repetitive tasks and analysis far faster than any human, but the level of accuracy AI provides also far exceeds tasks that are already automated (see our Document Scanning solution here).
The opportunity for AI to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency is vast, and the successful businesses of the future will be those who make investments in AI. Full details of the support that will be available are yet to emerge, but businesses should soon see initiatives designed to expedite access to AI, providing the opportunity for organisations to innovate and differentiate themselves.
With AI, businesses can deliver highly personalised experiences. Whether it's using predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs or deploying chatbots for round-the-clock support, companies can foster stronger customer relationships, leading to increased customer loyalty and retention.
Few organisations have advanced AI skillsets in-house. With government-backed AI education and training programmes and strategic expansion of the 'High Potential Individual visa eligibility list', businesses will have access to a more skilled workforce, be that to hire internally or outsource. This could help address AI talent shortages and provide companies with employees who are up-to-date with the latest AI technologies and best practices.
It's an inevitability that an increase in the use of AI will involve more regulation and compliance. This is the correct approach for obvious reasons. While increased AI governance ensures ethical deployment, it will add an extra burden on organisations to stay compliant with emerging regulations. We recognise that as an AI service provider, companies like DSP will play a critical role in helping companies implement AI solutions that meet these evolving requirements.
One last thought… it's important to recognise that AI is not just a 'tech solution', it's really an 'enabler' that creates opportunities for enhancement across all aspects of all sectors. Organisations should be on the lookout for opportunities to partner with companies that are developing AI tools and services, as well as government-led subsidies, schemes or programmes that expedite access to AI. And remember, even if you don't possess the skills in-house (which many organisations won't yet), there are IT service providers, like DSP, who constantly ensure they are up to date with the latest innovations, in order to pass this best practice on to their customers.
The UK's AI Action Plan marks a welcome step forward in the UK's ambition to be one of the leading global players in the AI space. At DSP, we're excited about the possibilities this brings, and we're committed to helping businesses like yours navigate and thrive in this transformative landscape.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive your business forward.