• Swindon & Wiltshire Tech
• Tuesday January 14 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Bristol will ‘lead the UK in becoming an AI superpower’

Bristol will lead the UK in becoming an AI superpower – that’s the message from the University of Bristol, where some of the world’s most powerful computers are based.

The university, which was recently crowned AI University of The Year at the National AI Awards, last year received an unprecedented £225 million government investment to create Isambard-AI.

Isambard-AI, situated at the National Composites Centre between Bristol and Bath, is set to become the UK’s fastest and most powerful supercomputer, purpose-built for AI research following completion in Summer 2025.

It will offer capacity never seen before in the UK for researchers and industry to harness the huge potential of AI in fields such as robotics, big data, climate research and drug discovery.

Critically, Isambard-AI will also enable the UK’s sovereign AI capability for the first time.

Speaking at the launch of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan on Monday (January 13) professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, director of the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, said: “The University of Bristol is proud to support the UK’s ambitious AI vision with Isambard-AI, the nation’s fastest supercomputer.

“Capable of performing in one second what would take the combined efforts of the entire global population 81 years, Isambard-AI represents a transformative leap forward.

“Already operational and with full production coming this year, it will play a central role in delivering a 20-fold increase in the UK’s AI capability within just a few years—faster and more cost-efficiently than commercial alternatives.

“This is a pivotal moment for AI in the UK.”

Built in a climate-controlled modular data centre being fully installed over the winter of 2024, phase one of Isambard-AI is already up and running.

Current AI projects include understanding what role the inflammation of blood vessels plays in heart disease, using camera tracking to determine the health of livestock on farms and producing groundbreaking new vaccines.

Isambard-AI is officially the most sustainable supercomputer in the UK and the second greenest machine in the world as top two in the Green500 list. It has been built in a low-carbon, modular data centre, and there is significant potential to recycle the waste heat output for nearby infrastructure.

Meanwhile, prime minister Keir Starmer was keen to stress the potential of AI for boosting the UK’s flatlining economy and shake up productivity in the public sector.

He said AI has the potential to “transform the lives of working people – speeding up planning consultations to get Britain building, helping drive down admin for teachers so they can get on with teaching our children, and feed AI through cameras to spot potholes and help improve roads.”

The government added that embracing AI could “lead to more money in the pockets of working people.”

It pointed to figures from the IMF, which estimates that if AI is fully embraced – it can boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year.

“Today’s plan mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation – revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets,” said the government.

“Because for too long we have allowed blockers to control the public discourse and get in the way of growth in this sector.

“The plan puts an end to that by introducing new measures that will create dedicated AI Growth Zones that speed up planning permission and give them the energy connections they need to power up AI.”

“The AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers,” said the PM.

“And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.

“Our plan will make Britain the world leader. It will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change.

“That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.”

Peter Jones of the HR Dept says businesses need AI policies

HR expert tells firms to get a policy in place

Elsewhere, Business Biscuit’s resident HR expert Peter Jones, of the HR Dept, has warned that if businesses are to swiftly embrace AI in the workplace, they’ll also have to quickly draw up and adopt new AI policies.

“At HR Dept, we’re increasingly being asked about AI, its role in the workplace, and whether businesses should adopt an AI policy, in the same way that they have policies on areas such as parental leave, flexible working, or health and safety,” said Peter.

“AI is not something that can be put back in the box, so one way or another it will have a relevance. Our advice is to embrace this emerging technology and recognise that it can be a useful resource.”

But Peter warned use of AI was not without danger – hence the need for an AI policy.

“It’s important to bear in mind that AI – without limits – presents a number of risks, not least to data protection, accountability, transparency and ethical conduct. Drawing up an AI policy will help mitigate these risks.”

Peter said a policy should be bespoke to each business but would include common elements, such as details of what training will be provided on how to use AI tools responsibly and the risks associated with misuse. It should also cover who within the business is allowed to use AI, and who isn’t.

Peter added: “A policy should clearly communicate what the expectations are within the business in terms of the use of AI, including what is acceptable use and what isn’t.

“For example, tasks which have a legal or financial consequence and tasks requiring the input of confidential information or personal data are likely to be ruled out.

“It is also important to clearly outline communication lines for queries with AI and keeping management informed on what is it being used for – before using it! There is a need to maintain oversight.

“We are very happy to chat through AI policies with employers, and advise on what areas they should cover.”