Data centre builders could face new demands for priority grid access Tech The UK government is considering forcing data centre developers to invest in local communities and meet sustainability targets in exchange for priority access to the grid, as ministers miss their own deadline for introducing new planning rules. Under proposals being examined ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, developers could be required to make financial contributions to local [...]
Tech bosses warn Chancellor UK risks surrendering to foreign AI giants Tech Britain risks becoming dangerously dependent on foreign tech giants unless the government develops a comprehensive strategy for its own AI, industry leaders have warned the Chancellor ahead of his Budget on Wednesday. UKAI, which represents more than 270 AI businesses, has urged John Healey to commit substantial funding to a national sovereign AI strategy, warning [...]
Google, OpenAI and Anthropic back £100m UK AI biosecurity lab Tech Google Deepmind, OpenAI and Anthropic are backing a new £100m British AI biosecurity laboratory as the government unveils more than £600m in funding to tackle emerging technological threats. The lab will use AI to detect and monitor biological threats, bringing together some of the world’s largest AI developers as ministers seek to strengthen Britain’s defences. [...]
Healey vows AI will not ‘leave workers behind’ in £600m Budget package October 24, 2026 John Healey has vowed not to let AI “leave workers behind” as he unveiled more than £600m in investment ahead of next week’s Budget, amid mounting concerns over AI-driven job losses. The Treasury will commit £10m a year to studying the impact of AI on employment, alongside hundreds of millions of pounds for cyber security, [...]
AI minister hints at Budget measures as UK weighs tougher tech rules October 23, 2026 AI minister Kanishka Narayan has hinted at new measures in next week’s Budget, as the government considers tougher regulation of AI alongside plans to reduce Britain’s dependence on foreign technology. Narayan said ministers must go beyond regulating AI and develop domestic technology to give Britain greater influence over how it is used. Speaking on BBC’s [...]
AI giant Perplexity taps London startup Valarian in sovereign tech drive October 20, 2026 US AI giant Perplexity has struck a deal with London-based startup Valarian to bring its technology into the UK government and defence systems, a major boost to Britain’s ambition to reduce its reliance on foreign tech infrastructure. The partnership will let governments and businesses handling sensitive information deploy Perplexity’s AI within their own infrastructure, keeping [...]
AI minister warned UK risks becoming ‘high-value AI customer’ October 19, 2026 Britain risks becoming a “high value AI customer” rather than developing its own tech unless ministers urgently invest in domestic firms, the government’s top science advisory body has warned. In a letter to AI minister Kanishka Narayan, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) called for a national AI sovereignty plan to reduce Britain’s reliance [...]
AI firms taking ‘catastrophically high’ risks, ex-OpenAI researcher warns MPs October 13, 2026 The world’s biggest AI companies are taking “catastrophically high” risks in their race to develop superintelligent systems, a former OpenAI researcher has warned MPs, as Parliament examines whether tech giants can be trusted to regulate themselves. Daniel Kokotajlo, who quit the ChatGPT maker over safety concerns, told the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) Committee [...]
‘Slow-moving tsunami’ – IMF warns AI could hit 60 per cent of jobs in advanced economies October 12, 2026 AI’s impact on employment “is a slow-moving tsunami, but a tsunami nonetheless”, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned, as the technology threatens to reshape six in ten jobs across advanced economies. Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, said AI could affect 40 per cent of jobs worldwide, rising to 60 [...]
AI minister warns of ‘inevitable’ cyber attack on UK as he tells labs to ‘be honest’ October 12, 2026 Britain cannot rely on tech giants to police their own AI systems, the government has warned, as ministers prepare new measures to protect businesses and national security from increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. AI minister Kanishka Narayan warned that a major AI-powered cyber incident hitting the UK is “inevitable” as he called for a national effort [...]