🇬🇧 UK Weekly AI News Roundup (Week of 16 June 2025)

1. Government & Industry Launch Major AI Skills Drive

• The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) has spearheaded a collaboration with tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM, BT, Sage, and Salesforce to train 7.5 million UK workers in AI skills by 2030—targeting a fifth of the workforce.
• Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasised that workers must shift from “trepidation” to “exhilaration” when embracing AI

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2. £2 Billion AI Action Plan & Sovereign AI Infrastructure

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed a £2 billion AI action plan, bolstering the UK’s ambitions to become a sovereign AI stronghold 
• UCL and NVIDIA announced a partnership to build UK-based sovereign AI platforms, part of a broader Europe-wide effort.

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3. Government AI Toolkit "Humphrey" Sparks Debate

• The civil service’s rollout of “Humphrey”—powered by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—is under scrutiny. Critics worry about inadequate oversight, potential bias, IP rights issues, and over-reliance on big tech.

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4. Capita-Backed Think Tank Flags Civil Service AI Fund Concerns

• The Social Market Foundation says the £3.25 billion government AI Transformation Fund lacks strategic clarity, which may limit its impact and lead to inconsistent adoption across government departments.

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5. BT CEO Warns AI Could Drive Further Job Cuts

• BT Group’s CEO Allison Kirkby cautioned that AI-driven automation may lead to job losses beyond the 40–55 k roles already slated for elimination by 2030.
• BT already deploys AI in customer service via its “Aimee” assistant, handling ~60,000 weekly interactions.

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6. Autonomous Robotaxi Pilot to Hit London Roads

• Uber is partnering with UK startup Wayve to test fully autonomous robotaxis in London. The pilot, targeting spring 2026 deployment, will use Wayve’s end-to-end “AI driver” systems on Ford Mach-Es.

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7. AI Tool “Extract” Set to Speed Up Planning Applications

• The Government’s Incubator for AI (iAI) is trialing “Extract,” a tool that auto-extracts info from maps, PDFs, and docs to streamline planning application reviews—helping local authorities make faster, more consistent decisions.

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🔍 Context & Insights

📡 What to Watch Next Week

• Updates from London Tech Week follow‑ups (policy debates, investment commitments).
• Developments in AI regulation: will the more “comprehensive” bill return after last week’s delay?
• Results from early piloting of robotaxis and planning‑AI tools.

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