AI Opportunities Plan – Experts Define Their Priorities

Excello Law Partner in AI and Data Protection, Wayne Cleghorn, Shares Insights on AI Opportunities Action Plan in Director of Finance Online

The UK government’s ambitious plan to “unleash” Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive a decade of national renewal has been cautiously welcomed by business leaders and industry experts. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has committed to implementing all 50 recommendations outlined in entrepreneur Matt Clifford’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, vowing to place the full weight of Whitehall behind this transformative sector.

Wayne Cleghorn, Data Protection, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence Partner at Excello Law, emphasised the importance of balancing innovation with safety in the AI space. “When talking about AI, economic growth, and innovation, we should not make safety the bogeyman. All can – and should – co-exist in a virtuous circle,” he explained. “If we are not saying safety first, are we saying unsafety first or high-risk AI poker playing first?”

Cleghorn also stressed the importance of clarity and precision when discussing AI safety. “Words matter: the term AI safety is vague and imprecise at best. We should say what we mean. Safety includes data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, accountable supply chains, environmental stewardship, and high-quality inputs into artificial intelligence systems to reduce harms. These ingredients build trust, effectiveness, and resilience, which are net positives.”

The plan highlights AI’s potential to revolutionize industries and public services, from delivering smarter healthcare to improving infrastructure and planning. Sir Keir Starmer noted the government’s intent to use AI to tackle national priorities, including the creation of AI Growth Zones and significant investment in computing power.

While broadly supportive of the plan, several experts raised concerns about its implementation and scalability.

Nigel Church, CEO of Emerge Digital, welcomed the £14 billion investment as a promising start but argued for more robust funding to realize AI’s full potential. “It needs to be five times that to truly reflect the growth and cost-saving potential of AI,” he said, urging a focus on regional investment and a review of the industrial strategy to benefit communities across the UK.

James Klein, Corporate Partner at Spencer West, highlighted the importance of fostering growth for early-stage companies and scale-ups. “The UK needs to rejuvenate and positively transform its public services and infrastructure,” he noted, calling for measures to retain talent and nurture successful businesses. He also praised the plan’s focus on AI sovereignty and removing barriers to scaling AI initiatives, emphasizing the need for regulatory reform and targeted investment.

Rob Burlison, Director of International Corporate Affairs at Intuit QuickBooks, hailed the plan as a bold approach but noted its success hinges on widespread adoption and addressing security risks. “Small businesses that are all-in on adopting AI are growing, competing, and achieving success on a larger scale,” he said, citing research showing that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) using AI tools experience twice the revenue growth and three times the workforce expansion compared to those that don’t.

However, Burlison also cautioned about AI-related risks, noting the increased threat posed by criminals leveraging the technology for sophisticated attacks. “Public-private partnerships to boost AI rollout must be supplemented with the appropriate security measures,” he advised.

Other industry leaders echoed these sentiments. Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics, stressed the importance of data quality in AI adoption. “AI is only as good as the data it relies upon,” he said, urging organizations to develop robust data strategies to mitigate risks such as outdated or erroneous information.

Andrew Rose, CSO at SoSafe, highlighted the cyber risks associated with AI, particularly the potential for AI tools to become attack vectors. “Even benevolent AI tools could mistakenly assist attackers in finding valuable information or bypassing controls,” he warned, underscoring the need for strong cybersecurity measures.

The government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan represents a significant step toward unlocking AI’s transformative potential in the UK. However, as Wayne Cleghorn and others point out, its success will depend on balancing innovation, safety, and inclusivity to ensure benefits are felt across society.

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