The Government has committed billions in investment among a raft of AI measures ahead of next week’s Budget.

AI ambassadors have been appointed including Simon Johnson, the Nobel prize-winning Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) economist and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, who will act as a standard bearer with public services and businesses. 

Monzo co-founder and Y Combinator general partner Tom Blomfield will champion British startups to scale up and attract talent and investment.

Google DeepMind VP of research Raia Hadsell will champion the UK’s place at the forefront of AI innovation and security. 

Venture capitalist James Wise will chair a new Sovereign AI Unit, backed by almost £500m in investment, to help build and scale AI capabilities. The unit will bring together Government, industry and investors to become the ‘go-to fund’ for high potential startups and scaleups in the UK. 

The government says it will act as a ‘first customer’ for promising UK startups who are building high-quality AI hardware products but currently struggle to get off the ground without investment. 

The new ‘advance market commitment’ is backed up by up to £100m of government support. 

A new AI Growth Zone in South Wales – with partners including Vantage Data Centers and Microsoft – powered by £10bn investment will create more than 5,000 new jobs for local communities over the next decade, the Government says – including at the former Ford Bridgend Engine Plant.