Published in POLITICO Pro Morning Technology UK newsletter on 30 May 2025
What are you working on at the moment?
In addition to my decade-long career as a writer and keynote speaker on AI, I’m a co-founder of a UK-based startup called Conscium. We are investigating the possibility of machines becoming conscious in the next few years, and the startling impacts that will have.
We are also launching a service called Agent Verification. This is the year of AI agents, and we need to know that they will do what they are supposed to do. We think that verifying this will be a big business. We have a head start and we are confident that we will be one of the big players in the space.
Are you feeling optimistic about the U.K. tech industry?
The U.K. may be placed third in the world ranking of tech industries, including AI, but it’s one of many contenders for that place, and all of us are far behind the U.S. and China.
European countries – and others – cannot remain dependent for AI services on a capricious ally which could suddenly withdraw access to mission-critical services that underpin our companies, our health services, and our armed forces.
Europe does not have to overtake the U.S. or China, and it should avoid being hostile towards them. But it needs to be able to keep its essential operations going. Europe must build a full stack AI industry, from chip manufacturing to data centres, and continue the development of foundation models. It should conduct fundamental research and build tech giants. Brexit notwithstanding, Britain must be a part of that.
Where do you think the U.K. gov is doing well on tech policy? Where could it be doing better?
I am pleased that the current government is taking a more grown-up approach towards relations with our close neighbours in Europe. Brexit was a dreadful mistake, which was mis-sold to the electorate, and polls show that most British people now accept that. Even if the mistake cannot yet be reversed, it’s time to start negotiations to return to the Single Market and the Customs Union.
The AI Opportunities Action Plan is a great initiative by the government that plays into the exceptional AI talent pool in the U.K. If much of it is successfully implemented it will be very positive. However, the UK shouldn’t kid itself that it can join the US and China as a world leader in AI, except as part of a Europe-wide initiative.
What U.K. tech policy/legislation are you most focused on at the moment?
I have spent the last fifteen years trying to get more people to think seriously about the future that AI will create for us – I’m still trying. This future involves full automation at some point, and then the arrival on this planet of entities which are vastly more intelligent and more capable than us. The consequences of these developments will be enormous, so it will be important to have policies in place that help the U.K.’s AI future.
