Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlines a sweeping AI strategy, including a national data library to unlock public data value
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled details of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which includes a national data library planned to unlock the value of public data and support AI development.
In a speech on 12 January 2024, Starmer confirmed that the government will take forward all 50 recommendations made by Matt Clifford, AI advisor to the government, in the AI Opportunities Action Plan.
Among the recommendations are proposals for the UK to invest in a supercomputer to boost computing power and a national data library to gather data held by the public sector, including anonymised health data, to support AI research and innovation.
When questioned by journalists about whether private firms would be able to access this health data for commercial use, Starmer responded that it is “important we keep control of that data”, but added that he does not think “we should have a defensive approach” to its use.
Meanwhile, in December 2024, the NHS England announced that it is using AI to predict patients who are at risk of becoming frequent users of emergency services, so staff can get them more appropriate care sooner.
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