The Government hopes AI growth zones will create thousands of new jobs, with the North East, North West, Scotland and Wales tipped to lead the charge.
Local and regional authorities are being encouraged to put their communities forward to win Government support for AI zones, with Ministers looking to use the emerging new technologies to help regenerate former industrial areas. The AI growth zones will be able to speed up planning permission to build AI infrastructure including data centres and give them the energy connections needed to power AI innovations in areas like healthcare.
To win Government backing, areas will need large sites with existing power connections, access to major energy infrastructure and land that is available to quick re-development. Initial interest from the North East, North West, Scotland and Wales has already been highlighted by the Government.
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Science and Innovation Secretary Peter Kyle said: “These new AI Growth Zones will deliver untold opportunities – sparking new jobs, fresh investment and ensuring every corner of the country has a real stake in our AI-powered future.
“We’re leaving no stone unturned in how we can harness expertise from all over the 海角视频 to deliver new opportunities, fresh growth, better public services and cement our position as an AI pioneer, and that’s the message I will be sending to international partners and AI companies at the AI Action Summit.”
He added: “What we’re looking for is parts of the country where there is an excess of electricity supply, where there is a rapid connection to the grid, where there are local skills available to commit to this project and where there is the political drive and determination to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity. When these circumstances come together, magic is possible.
“We’re talking not just about multimillion-pound investment into communities that will spread over decades. Because of the nature of this request, we will have shovels in the ground within months, we will have jobs being created within weeks and these are sustainable jobs ranging from construction to electricians and plumbers, right the way through to the digital skills of engineering and programming.”
The Government has today opened the bidding for areas to host AI growth zones, with Mr Kyle insisting the Government wants to move fast to create the new areas.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last month said he wanted the 海角视频 to be an AI “superpower” as he accepted 50 recommendations from a report into the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Global finance company Blackstone is planning to invest around £10bn into the creation of a data centre campus at Cambois, Northumberland, in part to capitalise on the opportunities of AI and other digital technologies.