The Prime Minister has been urged to pursue a “mega-deal” with the United States when he meets President Trump in Scotland which will help the two countries harness technologies which could define the future of humanity. Sir Keir Starmer is being pressed to forge an alliance with the United States so Artificial Intelligence powers the economy and protects the nation.
President Trump is expected in Scotland between July 25 and 29 ahead of September’s state visit. As well as visiting Aberdeen and his Turnberry golf resort, he will meet with the PM. Marcus Solarz Hendriks, head of the Policy Exchange think tank’s national security unit, urged Sir Keir to seize the opportunity to link-up with the US.
He said: “A global race is underway to develop and reap the benefits of a set of emerging technologies. Developing sovereign capabilities like AI and quantum, which offer transformative opportunities for national security and economy, is a key strategic priority for the UK over the coming decades. “We must combine our efforts with the US – the global economic and technologic superpower – to achieve this objective.”
Britain’s AI sector is already estimated to be worth £72billion and Policy Exchange wants a “Make our Economies Great Again” (Mega) deal. It would aim to lower barriers to collaboration in a host of areas.
As part of the deal, the think tank says the UK should offer “full alignment with the US on export controls and screening of hostile inward investment, and to keep the UK’s Digital Services Tax on the negotiating table”.
The call comes as the UK deepens its defence collaborations with Germany.
It was announced last week that Stark – which makes drones for NATO and Ukraine – will produce AI-supported systems at its first UK factory in Swindon, the historic home of the Spitfire.
However, the UK in a Changing Europe think tank say AI regulation is one of the “few areas where the UK and EU appear to view each other as competitors”.