How do you become a global leader in developing transformative AI?
How do you become a global leader in developing transformative AI?
Growth, Impact, Safety, Opportunity, Leadership
How do we define AI success—or how can we say the UK is taking a leadership position? And in what areas?
We often say that the UK has world-class, cutting-edge research and scientific institutions. Or that we excel in collaborations between industry and academia to drive economic growth. Or that we hold a global leadership position in AI safety and governance, led by the AI Safety Institute and supported by a proportionate, flexible regulatory approach.
Our Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, has outlined a clear vision of success:
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AI drives economic growth, which underpins the prosperity of our people and the performance of our public services.
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AI benefits working people directly, by improving healthcare, education, and citizen engagement with government.
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And as AI becomes more prevalent in our working lives, it opens up new opportunities, rather than merely threatening traditional employment patterns.
Purpose, Strategy, Governance, Literacy, Engagement
So what do you need to think about, so this translate into a success for you?
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Define clear, missions’ statements that align with your business and AI opportunities action plan vision
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Do you know how ‘AI transformation’ could help your company? Do you know how much more you could produce, or how your processes could become more efficient?
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Are you clear the ‘Why’, do you understand the deeper purpose behind the AI vision? What can you or your company do which can impact your industry?
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Do you have a solid AI management standard? Are you able to assess risks and impacts effectively? Do you have the right governance in place to ensure proper controls? Are you monitoring AI risks manually, or using AI to monitor AI?
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What can you do to empower your organisation to improve AI literacy—and how will that impact current AI deployment and development?
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How can you engage key stakeholders and how can you gather feedback to translate vision into strategic themes or Programmes of work?
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How often do you communicate the update, status with your team via Townhall?
The UK: Bridging Global AI Powerhouses
The UK holds a unique and powerful position in the global AI landscape—not by competing in isolation, but by acting as a bridge between global innovation hubs.
We draw on the strengths of all regions: the technological scale and venture dynamism of the United States, the regulatory foresight and ethical frameworks of Europe, and the speed, ambition, and adoption at scale from Asia. We integrate these diverse strengths into a distinctly British approach—pragmatic, innovative, and globally connected.
With London as a leading global financial centre and our deep expertise in professional services, the UK is well-positioned to become the world’s leading AI service provider—a trusted partner in AI deployment, governance, risk management, and transformation.
This isn’t about domination. It’s about orchestration. The UK can—and should—serve as the connective tissue in the global AI ecosystem, enabling safe, ethical, and scalable AI across borders and sectors.
Leading Together on the UK’s AI Journey
In the UK, we lead with clarity of purpose—and that leadership must be matched by clear, consistent communication.
Our national vision for AI is ambitious, but its success depends on collective engagement. Every leader, every organisation has a role to play in amplifying the AI Opportunities Action Plan, ensuring it is not only understood but actively championed.
It is through shared ownership and coordinated action that we can build the momentum, excitement, and trust needed to turn strategy into impact.
techUK - Seizing the AI Opportunity
techUK supports the UK's AI revolution, empowering both public and private sectors to fully embrace the transformative potential of AI.
We bring together the vendor and buyer communities, showcasing the benefits of private sector AI adoption and the opportunities of AI-powered public services. Our aim is to unleash the vast potential of AI to create opportunities for businesses and society, so everyone can reap the benefits of this technological opportunity..
Get involved: techUK runs a busy calendar of activities including events, reports, and insights to demonstrate some of the most significant AI opportunities for the UK. Our AI Hub is where you will find details of all upcoming activity. We also send a monthly AI newsletter which you can subscribe to here.
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Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
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Alex Yip
Alex Yip, CTO, Puritan AI, Vice Chair techUK AI and Data Analytics leadership committee has wealth of infrastructure, IT, Programme management and business transformation experience.