As a politics graduate, I’ve always seen party conferences as something akin to Glastonbury — only with fewer guitars and more policy papers. And, I can confirm that for those of us working in digital infrastructure and the tech space, this year’s Labour Party Conference had the same atmosphere of anticipation and possibility.
Since taking office, Labour has been clear about its ambitions for AI. Data centres have been classified as mission-critical infrastructure. The AI Opportunities Action Plan and the AI Growth Zone initiative indicate a clear and strategic vision and the conference itself was awash with tech-focused events that reflected this government’s recognition of the pivotal role AI can play in driving growth, productivity and societal transformation.
A real highlight for me was seeing Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) vision brought to life through its leadership. As we set out in our latest whitepaper, the UK risks becoming an AI Taker, not an AI Maker, potentially missing out on billions in economic growth, jobs and technological competitiveness. Secretary of State Liz Kendall brings deep experience in public policy and talent development from her work at the Department for Work and Pensions, while Minister for AI and Online Safety Kanishka Narayan contributes a sharp commercial perspective from his venture capital and technology background. Together, their complementary skills ensure that DSIT’s approach is both tactical and human-focused — developing and retaining talent, fostering innovation and scaling infrastructure to support AI adoption.
It was encouraging to share our AI Taking, Not Making whitepaper with both ministers. We discussed the urgent need to align UK AI copyright law with Europe, ensuring this parity will unlock homegrown innovation. Both were receptive and committed to reviewing our recommendations, giving genuine cause for optimism that DSIT is prepared to tackle the tougher policy and infrastructure challenges head-on. Minister Narayan in particular highlighted two priorities: the need to humanise AI by telling the real stories of its impact, and also leveraging AI to address societal challenges such as unemployment, which intersects directly with copyright reform and data use policy.
The government’s commitment to the role of AI is further reinforced by the recent announcement of significant global tech investments such as Nvidia’s £2 billion pledge to support AI start-ups in the UK, its partnership with NSCALE to deploy advanced GPU infrastructure, and the establishment of “Stargate UK” by Nvidia, OpenAI, and NSCALE — featuring cutting-edge GPU technology — position the UK as a central hub for AI development and deployment. It is evident that DSIT’s vision is clear and future-focused, combining infrastructure planning, talent development and supportive policy frameworks.
However, there are critical warning signs. While DSIT is clearly aligned with the vision we have outlined, other departments such as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) do not yet fully appreciate the pivotal role of data centres and AI infrastructure. Without addressing industrial energy costs and reforming AI copyright law to bring the UK in line with the EU, the government’s ambitions risk being undermined. Data centres, while energy-intensive, can act as catalysts for wider green energy adoption and the development of new renewable energy projects. If these challenges are not tackled, future investment — both domestic and overseas — could be jeopardised, AI start-ups may relocate and the UK risks losing its place in the global AI race.
The next twelve months will be crucial. With the right policy action and infrastructure investment we could see a very different picture in Liverpool by next year’s Labour Party Conference (a city which is fast becoming a thriving hub for AI start-ups, new talent and cutting-edge data centre development).
The UK has the leadership, expertise and emerging infrastructure to become a global AI Maker, but achieving this will require decisive action on energy, copyright and regulatory alignment. These are not technical or niche issues – they will ultimately determine whether Britain can fully capitalise on the AI opportunity, create high-value jobs and secure its place at the forefront of the next technological revolution.
