The UK Government has announced it will provide £100m to increase the development of AI computer chips.
Computer chips, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), are essential for enabling AI technologies.
Ramping up the production of AI computer chips will be critical for the UK to position itself as a global leader in the ever-evolving technology landscape.
Currently, the UK trails significantly behind other nations in AI funding and development, particularly the US and China.
The government’s £100m funding aims to close this AI gap and will be used to create a national AI resource in Britain.
Commenting on the news, a government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting a thriving environment for computing in the UK, which maintains our position as a global leader across science, innovation, and technology.
“The additional money being delivered through UKRI will complement the separate £100m investment to establish the Foundation Model Taskforce. Announcements on the AI Research Resource will follow in due course.”
How will the funding advance UK computer chips?
The funding will accelerate AI computer chips in the UK by establishing a national AI resource and ordering from major chip manufacturers, such as Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA.
The government is already in the final stages of ordering 5,0000 GPUs, otherwise known as graphics cards, from NVIDIA. GPUs are vital for performing complex actions required by AI.
However, despite the UK pledging to invest £1bn in AI over the next 20 years, industry experts say the investment is not enough.
UK funding for AI is far behind leading nations
The funding provided by the UK pales in comparison to those made by the EU, US, and China.
Currently, the UK accounts for only 0.5% of global semiconductor sales. In contrast, other nations have invested heavily in semiconductor research, design, and production.
The US has spent £41bn under the Chips Act, with the EU providing €43bn in subsidies for semiconductors.
This lack of UK funding has caused industry experts to voice their concerns.
Steven Mooney, CEO of FundMyPitch, said: “It’s encouraging to see a substantial investment being made in AI at a time when the technology is set to completely reshape the way businesses operate.
“However, not enough is being done to support the UK’s homegrown tech talent, with far too many ambitious entrepreneurs and innovators struggling to obtain funding, despite producing industry-leading products.
“The reality is that for many AI start-ups, getting the opportunity to secure a credible valuation and attract the attention of investors is an almost impossible task. This needs to change immediately if we want to play a leading role in the AI industry.”
The UK is set to hold an AI summit later this year to reinforce its AI ambitions.
