Tracey Follows

Great to see the exemplars programme exploring collaboration with industry - immense value would be gained by starting with open source AI platform foundations to underpin this programme and ensure effective, efficient, secured, and resilient AI is available for the UK!

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This week’s AI policy update. First, new views: advancing the UK’s leadership on frontier AI governance This week, Imogen Stead, AI policy manager, and Jess Whittlestone, senior adviser, both at the Centre for Long-Term Resilience, published their thoughts on the UK’s role in global AI governance. In the piece, Imogen and Jess argue that the UK has significant AI soft power, particularly in frontier AI safety and security, which can be used to strengthen and differentiate its voice in the international AI conversation. Aiming to move the policy conversation beyond either regulatory standard-setting or AI investment power, they set out three additional pathways to impact for the UK. These include: strengthening AISI’s international engagement, advancing international alignment on risks and mitigations, and influencing the behaviour of frontier companies. It’s an excellent, thoughtful article well worth reading. See Imogen’s post for more here: https://lnkd.in/e2ZuxaNu? and link to the full piece in comments. Next, highlights: UK AI policy Diego D., Head of AI policy at HM Treasury, has shared a few key takeaways from a busy year in AI policy. In his post, he highlights: - Procurement reforms so the UK government can buy British AI - A wider entrepreneurship and innovation package to help companies scale and stay in the UK - Alongside this, the launch of four new AI Growth Zones this year and a new AI strategy for science, backed by £137m, to accelerate AI adoption in R&D See Diego’s insightful post for a summary of the announcements made over the last year here: https://lnkd.in/eTbFqq4j? Last, if you don’t already follow: Rachel Adams Rachel, the author of the excellent book The New Empire of AI, has launched a new Substack, Fragile World. In the Substack, Rachel asks what work we need to do to translate AI's potential to solve intractable problems like disease into tangible change. It’s an ambitious and challenging topic, which Rachel points out, is often hindered by treating the question as a technical rather than a political problem. For anyone interested in AI’s impact on justice and global inequality, it will become an essential space for dialogue and debate. See Rachel’s latest post here: https://lnkd.in/e3Xv_Ki8?, and the link to her new Substack is in the comments. That wraps up my AI policy updates for this year. See you in January 2026. 

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Just published a piece on the @ACSE_Editors blog exploring the real story behind Open Access – it's far more than just APCs. From boosting citation impact to navigating funder mandates and bridging the global knowledge divide, OA is a strategic imperative. What are your thoughts on the true value of #OpenAccess? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dfesNSvk #ScholarlyCommunication #OpenScience #ResearchPolicy

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A powerful reminder that AI isn’t just a tech trend—it’s a strategic enabler for better government. For AI to truly drive economic growth and improve public services, we need to invest in interoperability and equipping public servants with the skills to understand and apply it. Efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation all start with capability. Thanks for sharing Ryan Shea #AIinGovernment #PublicSectorInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Interoperability #EconomicGrowth #GovTech #FutureOfPublicServices #AITraining #SmartGovernment

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APPG AI - “AI Human Avatars: opportunities and risks for UK businesses and services”. Report written by Dr Dominic Lees and Dr Mathilde Pavis. With contribution from Ben Saunders Founder Signapse. In association with University of Reading and Synthetic Media Research Work. Chaired by Mark Sewards MP, the first MP to have his own avatar!

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I've written a Times (of London) column today on Keir Starmer's bold - and impressive - leadership on deploying AI throughout the British public sector. Within days of entering No10, he moved the conversation from AI “safety” to AI “opportunity.” Since then, his government has committed more than half a billion pounds to projects across health, education and planning. Starmer’s argument is refreshingly human: AI isn’t just about productivity. It’s about giving frontline workers — nurses, teachers, social workers, police officers — the “precious gift of time” by removing the dullest parts of their jobs and letting them focus on what matters most. It’s a bold bet. But if it pays off, Starmer won’t just modernise the state — he’ll reshape how millions of people experience public services. Link to article in comments...

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Thank you The Municipal Journal for publishing my thoughts on the importance of transparency and robust governance to enable the UK to see the benefits of AI translate into economic and social improvement. These are critical for building public trust in AI which is currently extremely low, for example, see "Understanding Public Attitudes to AI" by The Alan Turing Institute

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There is lots of chatter in the sector about how AI could present solutions to the funding crisis through the efficiencies it can create. This might be true, but I think there is a another angle which I don't see folk talking about enough: Without a sustainable funding solution, UK universities will not be able to transform their learning and teaching in a way that future proofs provision, protects academic standards, and gives students the critical AI literacy skills they need for life after graduation. Curriculum and assessment redesign, equal access to the appropriate tools, a long-term strategy for training and upskilling staff, sufficient induction and support for students: these all take time, resource and money. While some providers are comparatively better off to engage in this activity, for others it's a step-change they are struggling to afford, despite how important they know it is. So while it may be true that AI can present efficiencies in HE that will ease the funding squeeze, it's also true that without the reassurance of a sustainable funding solution long-term, some UK higher education providers may struggle to deliver high quality AI-transformed learning and teaching that protects academic standards in the short term.

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This is a really important step for the publishing industry in the development of licensing options for AI content. Licensing solutions - coupled with transparency requirements - are the answer to an AI content market that operates within the law and benefits the UK economy and society. A huge well done to the teams at CLA, PLS and ALCS for moving this crucial work forward. 👏 👏 👏

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I just saw Niyi Akeju present on the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority at #BAFA2026, its mission and its journey towards impact via setting standards, embedding best practices, sharing insights, providing support and resolving concerns. Safe and inclusive working environments should be a fundamental right, enabling the arts and culture sector to attract, develop and retain talent from the widest pool and ensure everyone is enabled to thrive and be treated with respect. CIISA has been founded to uphold and improve standards of behaviour across the creative industries and to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment, including bullying and harassment of a discriminatory nature. I encourage you to read and engage with the standards, use their checklist to evaluate your organisation, and help spread awareness of the standards throughout the industry. It’s great to see so many organisations are already signed up, with BBC, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Shakespeare Company and Sadler's Wells among those blazing a trail 👏👏👏 https://lnkd.in/e93C8vEy

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Government to boost public sector’s tech bargaining power. Government says online marketplace The National Digital Exchange will give the UK public sector faster access to better deals, while boosting small business involvement by 40 percent. https://lnkd.in/ewUEvBqE. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology #NationalDataExchange #NDX #publicsector #procurement Think Digital Partners

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Important findings, which we're hearing from entrepreneurs and investors. Drop me a direct message if this is something you care about. 🔍 99% responded that AI development is reliant on text and data mining using publicly-available data, with a full 58% responding “very reliant.” 🔗 Similarly, 94% reported that their own work was very or somewhat reliant on models built using such techniques, with 54% reporting “very reliant.” 🚩 76% thought that if the UK chose not to introduce an equivalent protection for text and data mining to those in the 🇪🇺 EU, 🇺🇸 US, and 🇯🇵 Japan, it would be an important signal and the sector would likely reconsider whether the UK is a competitive environment for AI investments. ⚠️ 64% responded that if the UK does not introduce such a protection, then the Government’s wider commitment to AI will seem a lot less credible. ⏳ 83% indicated that implementing a transparency requirement—where developers must disclose the sources of data used—would likely result in delays to AI deployment in the UK. Within this group, 36% believed the delays would affect “many” services and features. 🌍 Thinking about their UK work, if other jurisdictions offer TDM protections and the UK does not, 66% reported that projects would have to take place in other countries, with 25% saying “many” projects would move abroad.

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Much of the discussion surrounding the 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜 in 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is centred on democratising access to knowledge and content. Far less attention is given to its impact on the development of individual capability. At Quantum Formalism, we allow the use of AI provided it serves as a learning partner that 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, rather than as a 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 that performs the core intellectual work on your behalf. 👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝗙 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆: https://lnkd.in/eD2uSN3X

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Good to join BBC News programme to discuss AI investments, global competition, and the emerging challenge of synthetic reality. Particularly enjoyed elaborating on the work with the Strategic AI Advisory Board I've been doing under the leadership of Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans and the Head of AI Office of Wales Mike Thomas. Below an excerpt from my conversation. Thanks to the BBC team and Rhodri Lewis for the conversation. ____________ #AI #syntheticreality #Wales #AIpolicy #speaker

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As the Cardiff Capital Region continues its series of roadshows to consult on how it will spend the £30m given to it by the UK Government for a Local Innnovation Partnership, those leading it may want to read a fascinating new paper from the Acton Institute which traces how the world’s leading innovation districts were born. It identifies four distinct origins for succ ecosystems: 🚀 The Academic Cradle - Cambridge, Zurich, Pittsburgh where universities commercialise research and spin out world-changing firms like ARM and Climeworks. 🚀 The Government Blueprint - Pangyo, Station F, Barcelona where deliberate public investment and planning engineer a tech hub from the top down. 🚀 The Corporate Spinoff - Eindhoven or Silicon Valley where giants like Philips or Fairchild fracture to create new industry clusters. 🚀 The Cultural Uprising - Berlin or Shibuya where affordability, creativity and rebellion fuel bottom-up innovation. Each model creates different strengths and as the paper argues, the genius of Silicon Valley was that it combined all four - university research, corporate spinoffs, state funding and a culture that celebrated risk. The mistake many have made is trying to replicate that formula rather than translating it by aligning each region’s own mix of institutions, capital and culture around a shared mission. And that’s exactly what Local Innovation Partnerships must do and give each region a coherent innovation strategy instead of another patchwork of agencies and pilot projects. Other lessons from the Acton research apply directly to the UK: ✅ Anchor institutions matter. Every thriving district gains a gravitational centre namely a university, a corporate, or a standout scale-up. ✅ Patient capital is essential. World-class ecosystems take decades, not grant cycles, to mature. ✅ Focus beats dilution. Spreading resources too thinly is to be avoided ✅ Trust can be a differentiator. In an era of geopolitical tension, being a “Trusted Tech” nation is a strategic advantage. But THE most important lesson from the Acton research is that start-ups are the foundational currency of modern innovation districts. They create energy, attract talent, and generate the stories that make places matter. If Local Innovation Partnerships can nurture that start-up energy by aligning anchors, capital and culture, they could finally turn Britain’s innovation potential into long-term prosperity. #Innovation #Startups #InnovationDistricts #LocalInnovationPartnerships #Entrepreneurship #Ecosystem #EconomicGrowth #IdeasForums #IdeasCommunity #Innovation #Startups #InnovationDistrict #LocalInnovationPartnerships #UKInnovatio #Entrepreneurship #EconomicGrowth

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The UK is at a critical juncture in leveraging AI for technology innovation. Recent momentum in AI research and enterprise adoption signals a reshaping of competitive landscapes across industries. But the pace of innovation and regulation is raising questions around sustainable growth. Balancing rapid AI deployment with robust governance frameworks is becoming a strategic imperative for UK businesses seeking to innovate responsibly. Emerging trends show sectors such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing aggressively integrating AI to optimize operations and customer experience. However, the challenge remains in ensuring the ethical use of AI while fostering an environment conducive to experimentation and scaling. How are UK enterprises navigating these tensions to drive meaningful AI-driven innovation?

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A Blueprint for Modern Digital Government | Presented to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology This report outlines #theUKGovernment’s long-term strategy for delivering efficient, accessible, and resilient #digitalpublicservices. It presents a comprehensive vision to modernize #digitalgovernment through a six-point reform plan, establishing a foundation for a digitally enabled state capable of responding to future societal, #economic, and technological challenges. The central objective is to ensure that public services are user-centric, data-driven, secure, and consistently delivered across all departments and agencies. To achieve this, the report introduces a new Digital Centre of Government, which will lead strategic coordination, standard setting, and oversight of #digitaltransformation across the civil service. This centre will also serve as a focal point for building national capabilities in areas such as #AI, #cybersecurity, and #digitalidentity. The six-point plan for reform focuses on the following pillars: 1. User-first Services – Rebuilding public digital services around user needs, accessibility, and life events. 2. Cross-government Platforms and Capabilities – Scaling reusable components like identity verification, payments, and cloud infrastructure. 3. Data as a Strategic Asset – Promoting data interoperability, ethical usage, and decision-making informed by real-time data. 4. Cyber Resilience and Trust – Enhancing the security and integrity of digital infrastructure and reinforcing public trust. 5. Skills and Digital Leadership – Expanding the digital talent pipeline and improving digital literacy across government departments. 6. Stronger Delivery Governance – Creating accountability mechanisms to monitor progress and ensure alignment with long-term objectives. The report also addresses the importance of digital inclusion, public-private collaboration, and innovation-led policy design. Lessons from both domestic and international best practices are integrated to ensure #theunitedkingdom remains a leader in digital government transformation. In conclusion, this blueprint sets out a bold but necessary pathway for reshaping how government operates in the digital age. It underscores that the success of public service delivery increasingly depends on cohesive #digitalleadership, #investment in foundational infrastructure, and an unwavering commitment to putting citizens at the centre of every digital experience.

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In February, I’ll be working with local businesses in the Mansfield District Council area on a fully funded, hands-on AI workshop. The workshop will be delivered Mansfield Innovation Centre on the 04 Feb. What I’m most looking forward to is the real, grounded questions that come from running a business day to day, rooted in place, people, and practical reality. This session sits firmly within the ambition of the #PlanforNeighbourhoods to support local regeneration through long-term, community-led change, centred on: Creating thriving places Building stronger communities Enabling local people to take back control of their area’s future AI might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about #NeighbourhoodRegeneration, but skills, confidence, and informed decision-making absolutely are. The aim of this session isn’t to turn businesses into “AI-first” organisations. It’s to create space to explore, test, question, and understand what actually makes sense, for your team, your customers, and your local context. That quiet moment when someone says, “Ah… I can see how this could work for us.” That’s the real starting point. Looking forward to learning with Mansfield businesses in February, and to seeing how small, practical steps can contribute to much bigger, place-based impact. Registration: If you’re a Mansfield-based business and would like to join upcoming fully funded, practical AI workshops, register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/emr8P4nA

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