UK 'Absolutely' Can Compete with the U.S. and China on AI, Says Tech Minister

Why It Matters

If successful, the strategy could secure high‑value AI jobs and research in the UK, boost industrial competitiveness in critical sectors, and attract private capital into domestic chip development—shaping where key AI capabilities are built. Confidence: 85.

Summary

The UK tech minister said Britain can "absolutely" compete with the U.S. and China in AI, arguing that dominance in compute—and the specialized chips that enable it—will determine wins in AI, jobs and economic growth. The government plans to back domestic AI hardware and chip startups, bolster the talent pipeline and invest in next‑generation chips to support sectors like life sciences, drug discovery and financial services. Ministers defended a recent £1 billion commitment as catalytic funding that can help startups attract further private investment. The pitch positions targeted public investment as a way to diversify the global chip market and secure strategic advantages for UK industry.

Original Description

The U.K. can "absolutely" compete with the U.S. and China in AI, U.K. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall told CNBC's Ritika Gupta.