Technology industry leaders gathered in London last week to discuss the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer

The meeting, which took place on Wednesday at The Savoy Hotel in central London, saw digital experts discuss the implementation and practicalities of adopting the much-hyped initiative, which is backed by a £14bn investment and set to create over 13,000 jobs.

Key attendees included Feryal Clark MP, Minister for AI and Digital Government who summarised the government’s AI roadmap and Steven George-Hilley, founder of Centropy PR.

Speaking at the event, John Lucey, VP EMEA North for Cellebrite, commented: “We’ve seen the importance of AI and digital policy this week with the launch of the AI Opportunities Actions Plan poised to position the UK as a global AI leader.

Data will play a central role in Britain’s AI future, requiring comprehensive data management systems and data privacy protocols to ensure that AI is trained on trustworthy data and that data inputs don’t breach privacy laws.

In key sectors such as policing and defence, for example, organisations need to be able to trust AI systems to deliver accurate results in a safe manner, maintaining client confidentiality while automating manual processes to drive efficiencies.

“For AI to be truly successful, it will require investment in data practices and training,” added Lucey.

Meanwhile cyber expert Andy Ward, SVP International for Absolute Security, commented: “As the UK positions itself as a global AI leader, it’s important that a security-first approach is taken to AI innovation and development to mitigate cyber risks. AI-powered threats are growing increasingly sophisticated, targeting sensitive data from public sector bodies and high-profile individuals, right the way down to small businesses.

“Recognising these threats and building cyber resilience frameworks to protect critical IT systems can help organisations to remain operational in the face of threats, allowing them to push forward with innovative AI solutions while limiting potential risks,” concluded Ward.

Ben Green, Chief Revenue Officer at adCAPTCHA, , commented: “The evolution and widespread adoption of AI is showing no signs of slowing down, requiring collaboration between the public sector and industry to shape the UK’s AI future.

There’s no question of the benefits that AI can bring, but we must also be mindful of the risks, with trends such as AI-enabled bot attacks continuing to threaten businesses and drain marketing revenues through manipulating ad auctions.

Green continued, “Understanding the threats that AI could pose, as well as where it can be a vital solution, is crucial to the UK’s ambitious AI leadership.”