Britain risks becoming a "high value AI customer" rather than developing its own technology unless ministers urgently invest in domestic firms, the government's top science advisory body has warned. The Council for Science and Technology (CST) communicated this in a letter to AI minister Kanishka Narayan, calling for a national AI sovereignty plan.
The CST, which advises the prime minister and cabinet, stated that without "deliberate and urgent action," the UK risks being unable to shape AI technology and its usage. The council believes the government needs a clear view on where national capability is crucial, where dependence on overseas suppliers is acceptable, and where the UK has a credible opportunity to lead.
The letter, originally sent in July, included four recommendations. These included mapping Britain's AI infrastructure, appointing a single official to coordinate investment decisions, and strengthening domestic skills, research, and access to data. The CST also urged ministers to test British AI models in public services, such as healthcare and national security, while maintaining access to leading international systems. They suggested allocating national supercomputing capacity to these trials and considering an open-source British AI model proposed by the Alan Turing Institute.
This warning follows the launch of the government's £500m Sovereign AI Fund, which invests in British startups developing strategically important technology. The CST stopped short of advocating complete technological independence, instead recommending targeted domestic investment alongside continued access to international AI systems.