Google Urges UK to Ramp Up Data Centres and AI Policies

Google has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, suggesting that the country risks being left behind in the global AI race unless it accelerates the construction of data centers and relaxes current copyright laws. According to Google, these measures are essential for keeping pace with advancements in artificial intelligence and for maintaining a competitive edge. Debbie Weinstein, Google's UK managing director, emphasized the importance of proactive governmental policies to boost AI deployment.

The backdrop to this urgency includes recent research showing that the UK ranks seventh globally on an AI readiness index that measures data and infrastructure capabilities. While the UK has a rich history and several advantages in AI, Weinstein cautioned that resting on these laurels could lead to the country falling behind more proactive nations. Google's call for action includes improved infrastructure and legislative changes to support AI innovation and deployment.

The global boom in AI investment, spurred by breakthroughs such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's own Gemini model, underlines the strategic importance of AI in contemporary tech landscapes. However, this boom is juxtaposed against austerity measures in the UK. The Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, has recently cut funding for significant AI projects, including an £800 million commitment for an exascale supercomputer and a further £500 million for the AI Research Resource.

Google's recommendations are detailed in a forthcoming document titled 'Unlocking the UK’s AI Potential.' Among its proposals, the document advocates for the creation of a national research cloud to provide essential computing power and data to startups and academic institutions. Such infrastructure is crucial for the development of AI models that power products like ChatGPT. Google also highlighted the UK’s struggle to attract data center investments and expressed support for Labour's commitment to building more data centers through a new planning and infrastructure bill.

Crucially, Google has called for amendments to UK copyright laws, specifically to enable text and data mining (TDM) for commercial purposes. This practice involves the copying of copyrighted material for non-commercial uses such as academic research, which is currently permitted. However, the Conservative government had previously abandoned efforts to extend TDM permissions to commercial uses, after facing pushback from creative industries and news publishers.

The unresolved issues surrounding copyright pose a significant barrier to AI development in the UK, according to Google. The company views relaxed copyright restrictions as vital for training AI models effectively, particularly those that handle text, music, and images. Google's stance is that enabling TDM for commercial use would help unblock current developmental roadblocks and accelerate progress in AI.

The report also calls for the introduction of a national skills service to help the workforce adapt to AI, and for the technology to be integrated more broadly into public services. These measures are seen as essential for ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely distributed across society. Additionally, Google advocates for 'pro-innovation' regulation, favoring the enhancement of existing regulations rather than the creation of new ones.

In response to Google’s recommendations, a UK government spokesperson reaffirmed the country's commitment to developing a robust AI framework. The AI Opportunities Action Plan, driven by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, aims to equip businesses and public services with the necessary infrastructure, skills, and data access. The spokesperson also stressed the importance of developing AI safely to maintain public trust and mentioned forthcoming legislation targeting the developers of the most powerful AI models.

This dialogue between tech giants like Google and the UK government highlights the complex interplay between innovation, regulation, and public trust in the rapidly evolving field of AI. As artificial intelligence continues to shape the future, the policies and infrastructure put in place now will determine which countries lead and which lag in this technological revolution.