Former Dragons' Den investor Piers Linney has thrown his support behind the UK's 'AI Opportunities Action Plan', recently unveiled by Keir Starmer but crafted under tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford's guidance.
The government's strategy aims to harness AI for the UK's economic growth, as reported by City AM.
Linney, in a LinkedIn update, commended the plan: "Falling behind will lead to global irrelevance and wealth destruction. Catching up in an exponential world is impossible."
He added, "The global AI race is now on. Nations that act quickly will lead, and those that hesitate risk being left behind. This plan signals the UK’s intent not just to keep up but to set the pace."
He also shared a video of Clifford from the department for science, innovation and technology (DSIT), describing it as "a step in the right direction".
As executive chairman and co-founder of Implement AI, Linney has been vocal about the necessity for regulation and strategic planning, suggesting on X: "We need a UK Manhattan Project to plan for exponential future across all policy".
While endorsing the initiative, Linney did raise concerns, particularly questioning who benefits from the new data centres and emphasising the importance of making data "accessible to all businesses, not just the big players"
He also emphasised the necessity for more audacious strategies to tackle the issues faced by SMEs, which makeup 99 per cent of UK businesses. "The UK’s 5.6m SMEs must be supported to implement AI effectively. Applying linear plans to an exponential future will not work", he stated.