AI
UK AI policy rests on the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The independent report, led by Matt Clifford, was published on 13 January 2025 with 50 recommendations. A government progress report in January 2026 said 38 of the 50 actions had been met. It said five AI Growth Zones, areas offering planning support and better power access for data centers, had been designated. It put the associated investment at £28.2 billion.
The largest headline figures are company pledges rather than public spending. When the government announced a UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal on 16 September 2025, it said US firms had committed a combined £31 billion. Announcements that day included a $30 billion (£22 billion) commitment from Microsoft and a two-year, £5 billion investment from Google. Public funding is smaller. The UK Compute Roadmap of July 2025 commits up to £2 billion to 2030. It targets a twentyfold expansion of the national AI Research Resource, from 21 to 420 AI exaFLOPS, a measure of computing power. A government-backed fund for UK AI companies, Sovereign AI, launched on 16 April 2026. The progress report puts its backing at up to £500 million.
The AI Security Institute, a government research body that tests leading AI systems before and after release, reports more than 100 technical staff. It was renamed from the AI Safety Institute in February 2025. The King's Speech of 13 May 2026, which sets out planned legislation, named bills on cyber security, digital ID and nuclear regulation. It did not mention AI.
Chips and hardware
The National Semiconductor Strategy of May 2023 committed up to £1 billion over a decade. It concentrated on research, chip design and intellectual property, and compound semiconductors. It highlighted Cambridge-based Arm, saying 29.2 billion Arm-based chips shipped in 2021. On 8 June 2026 the government announced a £1.1 billion AI Hardware Plan. It includes £750 million for a national AI supercomputer due to be deployed in 2030, of which £400 million is for next-generation chips. It also includes £120 million for an AI Hardware Innovation Programme.
Robots and autonomy
The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 will require self-driving vehicles to be at least as safe as careful, competent human drivers, the Department for Transport says. In June 2025 the department said it would bring forward pilots of taxi- and bus-like services to spring 2026. It said the act would be fully implemented from the second half of 2027. It opened applications for operators to join the pilot scheme on 22 May 2026. Waymo began testing about 100 vehicles in London with safety operators in April 2026, TechCrunch reported. The UK startup Wayve, which planned a London service with Uber, had begun public rides there with a safety operator on board by mid-September, according to TechCrunch. Wayve raised $1.2 billion in February 2026 at an $8.6 billion valuation, TechCrunch reported. Regulations laid on 7 July 2026 reserve marketing terms such as driverless and self-driving for authorized or listed vehicles.
Energy technology
A Fusion Strategy published on 16 March 2026 plans a market framework for fusion electricity and a prototype plant, STEP, at West Burton in Nottinghamshire. Construction is expected from 2030, with completion due by 2040. The government says the strategy builds on £2.5 billion for fusion research and development secured at its Spending Review. On 14 September 2026 it said the UK and US would sign two fusion agreements. The UK Atomic Energy Authority said it had signed a declaration of intent with the US Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory to explore linking their fusion supercomputers.
Space
A UK Space Strategy published on 8 September 2026 puts government space investment for growth, defense and security under one plan. The government says it is backed by £7.8 billion until 2030. It replaces the National Space Strategy of 2021.
What to watch
- Government changes. Andy Burnham became prime minister on 20 July 2026. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) issued most of the plans described here. GOV.UK says it is being replaced by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Cabinet Office. The new business department lists a Minister for Artificial Intelligence.
- Whether pledged private investment in AI Growth Zones becomes built capacity.
- Whether self-driving services begin running without safety operators, and the Automated Vehicles Act implementation scheduled from the second half of 2027.
- Procurement of the national AI supercomputer due in 2030.
United Kingdom timeline
The government accepts all 44 recommendations of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, in a policy paper published by the MHRA.
Source: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (GOV.UK)
The government publishes a UK Space Strategy that it says is backed by £7.8 billion until 2030, replacing the 2021 National Space Strategy.
Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, according to GOV.UK.
Source: GOV.UK
The government announces a £1.1 billion AI Hardware Plan, including £750 million for a national AI supercomputer due in 2030.
Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
The Technology Secretary launches Sovereign AI, a government-backed fund for UK AI companies.
Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
The government publishes a Fusion Strategy and announces a construction partner contract for the STEP prototype plant at West Burton.
Source: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and UK Atomic Energy Authority (GOV.UK)
The government announces a UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal and says US firms committed a combined £31 billion to UK AI and tech infrastructure.
Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Prime Minister's Office (GOV.UK)
The Department for Transport says it will bring forward pilots of self-driving taxi- and bus-like services to spring 2026.
Source: Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (GOV.UK)
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, an independent report with 50 recommendations led by Matt Clifford, is published.
Source: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
Sources
- AI Opportunities Action Plan, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- AI Opportunities Action Plan: One Year On, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- AI Growth Zones, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Prime Minister's Office (GOV.UK)
- UK Compute Roadmap, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK Research and Innovation (GOV.UK)
- Tech Secretary launches Sovereign AI, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- About | The AI Security Institute (AISI), AI Security Institute
- Tackling AI security risks to unleash growth and deliver Plan for Change, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- The King's Speech 2026, Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street (GOV.UK)
- National semiconductor strategy, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- A decisive shift to power British AI: new £1.1 billion plan to back chip firms, boost computing power and skills for the AI revolution, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (GOV.UK)
- Driving innovation – 38,000 jobs on the horizon as pilots of self-driving vehicles fast-tracked, Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (GOV.UK)
- Passengers one step closer to booking taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles, Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (GOV.UK)
- Uber, Wayve, and Waymo are headed toward a robotaxi showdown in London, TechCrunch
- Self-driving tech startup Wayve raises $1.2B from Nvidia, Uber, and three automakers, TechCrunch
- Former Waymo CFO jumps to self-driving startup Wayve, TechCrunch
- Protecting marketing terms for automated vehicles, Department for Transport (GOV.UK)
- Britain to lead fusion energy race to deliver energy security, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and UK Atomic Energy Authority (GOV.UK)
- UK and US fusion strike partnership to accelerate clean energy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK)
- UK and US fusion supercomputers to be linked across Atlantic, UK Atomic Energy Authority (GOV.UK)
- New space strategy will bolster UK defences against threats from space, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Ministry of Defence and UK Space Agency (GOV.UK)
- Prime Minister, GOV.UK
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, GOV.UK
- Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, GOV.UK
- Government Response to the National Commission's Recommendations on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare., Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (GOV.UK)
